A Modern, Festive, Sweet-but-Classy Take on the Classic**
If classic Christmas puddings are all about deep spice and dark fruit, then this one is their bright, younger cousin who just got back from a European summer and insists everyone try pistachio gelato.
This White Chocolate, Cranberry & Pistachio Christmas Pudding is lighter, creamier, colourful, and just the right hit of festive sweetness thanks to white chocolate chunks and ruby-red cranberries. It’s nostalgic and modern at the same time — like decking the halls but using matching wrapping paper.
It’s also exactly the kind of recipe your Plan4One readers adore:
single-friendly, small-batch, easy to scale, warm, comforting, and completely doable without special equipment or 12 hours of soaking.
This recipe makes four mini puddings, perfect for gifting, sharing, or keeping as festive treats in the fridge for a quiet night in.
And of course, you’ll find all the usual Plan4One touches: nutrients, reheating tips, swaps, a friendly tone, and storage help for the time-poor but pudding-hungry solo cook.
Let’s make something merry.
⭐ Why This Pudding Works (Taste + Nutrition)
This pudding is a little more indulgent, but still manages a few nutrition wins:
- Cranberries add fibre and antioxidants — bonus points for that winter immunity glow.
- Pistachios offer healthy fats, protein, and vitamin B6.
- White chocolate is delicious. (Not a nutrient, but still very important.)
- Greek yoghurt adds creaminess while lightening the texture.
It’s indulgent but not overwhelming — ideal for those who want festive flavour without the heaviness of a traditional pudding.
🎁 Ingredients (Serves 4)
Dry ingredients
- ¾ cup self-raising flour
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ¼ cup chopped pistachios
- ⅓ cup white chocolate chips or chunks
- Zest of 1 orange
Wet ingredients
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup Greek yoghurt
- 2 tbsp olive oil or melted butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
For serving
- Extra pistachios
- A few melted white chocolate drizzles
- Thick vanilla yoghurt, custard, or cream
🥣 Step-by-Step Instructions (Beginner-Friendly)
1. Prep your ramekins
Grease four small ramekins or mini pudding moulds. Add a baking paper circle to the base if you want the “no drama, no sticking” guarantee.
2. Combine your dry ingredients
In a large bowl, stir together the flour, breadcrumbs, brown sugar, cranberries, pistachios, white chocolate, and orange zest.
Already smells like a very fancy Christmas hamper.
3. Mix up the wet ingredients
In a jug, whisk the egg, yoghurt, oil, vanilla, milk, and honey until smooth.
4. Bring it together
Pour the wet mixture into the dry bowl and gently fold until just combined.
Don’t overmix — we want soft, tender puddings.
5. Fill the moulds
Divide the mixture evenly across the four ramekins and cover each tightly with foil.
6. Steam your puddings
Set the ramekins in a large pot with a tea towel at the bottom. Pour boiling water to reach halfway up the sides.
Steam 40–45 minutes, keeping the lid on.
You’ll know they’re done when the tops are springy and your kitchen smells like an upmarket Christmas market.
7. Cool slightly & serve
Turn out or serve directly from the ramekin. Drizzle with a little melted white chocolate and sprinkle over extra pistachios for that festive sparkle.
🧊 Storage, Reheating & Make-Ahead Tips
- Fridge: Store 3–4 days in an airtight container.
- Freezer: Wrap and freeze up to 2 months (white chocolate may soften slightly but still great).
- Reheat: Microwave 25–35 seconds until warm and fragrant.
- Make-ahead: These puddings taste even better after resting overnight.
🔁 Scaling Up or Down
- Single serve: Make a quarter batch and steam 30–35 minutes.
- Small party: Double the batch to make 8 puddings — same steaming time.
- One big pudding: Steam in a 700ml basin for 1 hour 10–20 minutes.
🔄 Easy Ingredient Swaps
- Swap pistachios for almonds if you want something milder.
- Swap cranberries for dried apricots for a softer, sweeter pudding.
- Swap white chocolate for dark or caramelised white chocolate for more depth.
- Swap Greek yoghurt for sour cream for a richer result.
🍽️ Serving Suggestions (For One or Many)
- With cold vanilla yoghurt for a light finish.
- With warm custard for classic comfort.
- With whipped cream and a sprinkle of nutmeg if you’re feeling theatrical.
❤️ Share and Subscribe…
That’s the final pudding in this Christmas mini-series — but your festive cooking doesn’t have to end here. If you enjoyed this lighter, colourful twist, make sure to subscribe, comment, or share so other solo cooks can find the joy of small-batch Christmas baking too.
