Cranberry Christmas Pudding: EASY Christmas Pudding in the Instant Pot
A traditional-yet-modern take on the classic Christmas pudding - made simple and utterly delicious.
Prep Time30mins
Cook Time2hrs
Depressurizing Time1hr
Total Time3hrs30mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: British
Servings: 6
Author: Kresha Faber
Equipment
Pressure cooker, such as an Instant Pot (this recipe was created using a 6-qt Instant Pot)
Small stainless steel mold (even a mixing bowl can do)
Parchment paper
Twine
Aluminum foil
Ingredients
Dry Mixture
1 300-340grambag of fresh or frozen cranberries
½cupraisins or finely-chopped dried figs
½cupdried currants
½cupcoarsely chopped pecans or walnuts
2tablespoonschopped crystallized ginger, optional, but oh so good!
1 ½cupsdry breadcrumbs
¼cupunrefined cane sugar
1teaspoonground cinnamon
¼teaspoonground nutmeg
⅛teaspoonground cloves
Wet Mixture
¼cupunsulfured (fancy) molasses, NOT blackstrap
½cuporange marmalade or 1/4 cup honey
2teaspoonsbaking soda
¼teaspoonsea salt
⅓cupboiling water
Instructions
Prepare your mold and baking papers.
Find a 6-cup heat-proof, stainless steel mold that will fit inside your Instant Pot and that you can tie a string around (and have it stay in place!) I was given a set of stainless steel mixing bowls when we got married many years ago, similar to these ones, and the smallest one, which is a 6-cup size, works PERFECTLY. It gives a perfect shape, too. :)
Once you've chosen your mold, cut one circle of parchment paper and two circles of aluminum foil that will fit over the entire surface of the mold with 1-2 inches of overhang. Set aside.
Generously butter the inside of the mold and set aside.
Prepare the dry mixture
First, coarsely chop the cranberries. You may do this by hand or pulse them in a food processor. Place in a large mixing bowl.
Add the remaining dry ingredients and stir well to combine.
Prepare the wet mixture
Mix the molasses, marmalade, baking soda, and salt in a small mixing bowl.
Pour the boiling water over and stir briefly.
Scrape the wet mixture into the dry mixture and stir well until the wet mixture has been completely incorporated. The mixture will be very thick and may be somewhat crumbly.
Cook the pudding
Scoop the mixture into your prepared mold, lightly pressing down on the mixture every once in a while.
Cover with the prepared parchment paper and the two layers of foil. Crimp tightly and then tie tightly with kitchen string.
Pour 2 cups water into the Instant Pot, then set in the trivet and lower in the bowl. Alternatively, you can make a foil trivet and sling, if necessary. Roll one long piece of foil into a snake and coil into a trivet and place it on the bottom of your Instant Pot. Next, place one piece of foil in the Instant Pot so that each side runs up the side of the Instant Pot, which will allow you to grab the foil ends and lift up the pudding mold at the end of cooking time. A double sling can be helpful with heavy foods, such as this.
Leave the vent OPEN, and set on "Saute," then press "Adjust" until the "Low" setting is applied. As soon as you see steam coming from the vent, steam the pudding for 15 minutes.
When the pudding has steamed, close the vent, hit "Cancel" to turn off the saute setting, then choose "Manual" and cook on HIGH pressure for 1 hour 10 minutes. If you live at sea level, you might be able to get away with 1 hour, but you want to avoid ending up with a gooey middle and the extra time won't hurt the pudding at all. If you DO end up with a gooey middle, simple return the pudding to cooking at high pressure for an additional 15-20 minutes.
When the cook time is finished, press "Cancel" to turn off the heat and let the pot de-pressurize naturally for 30-60 minutes.
Serve the Christmas pudding
To serve, remove the mold from the Instant Pot, remove the covers, and set on a cooling rack to cool for 10 minutes. Turn out onto a serving platter and cut into wedges or spoon onto plates. Spoon the sauce over.
Place in the refrigerator for up to five days or place in an airtight container and freeze in the deep freeze for up to a year. Reheat before serving by thawing completely and cooking in the Instant Pot following the same instructions and cook times as above.
Notes
These directions were made using a 6-quart Instant Pot. For smaller or larger pressure cookers, cook times may vary.