“Wow, that actually smells just like a Christmas Pudding!”… high praise indeed, and guess what – it tastes just like a Christmas Pudding too. If you’re in need of a crowd-pleasing festive dessert but don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen, you can’t go wrong with this super-speedy ice cream sauce.
This is simply a (slightly boozy) toffee sauce, with all the best bits of a Christmas pudding piled into it – sultanas, dried figs, orange zest, cinnamon, nutmeg and brandy. It will take you less than 10 minutes to make, but is memorably good poured (still warm) over a good-quality vegan vanilla ice cream. After a large-ish lunch I’m not often in the mood for a heavy pudding with custard, but somehow there’s always a little bit of room for a scoop of ice cream.
This would also make a really lovely homemade gift, poured into a sterelised jar and tied with a pretty ribbon. It will keep for a few months in the fridge.
Vegan
- 50 g dairy-free margarine
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 125 g light brown sugar
- 100 ml dairy-free cream (oat or soya)
- 2 tbsp golden syrup or black treacle
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 50 g raisins
- 25 g chopped dried figs or dates
- zest of 1 orange
- 50 ml brandy or sherry
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Melt the margarine in a saucepan, and add the cinnamon and nutmeg and stir well to ensure there are no lumps.
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Add all the remaining ingredients (except the brandy or sherry), and bring to the boil, then simmer for 5 minutes until slightly thickened.
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Remove from the heat, stir through the brandy or sherry, and leave to cool - it will thicken as it cools.
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Serve - for instance over vegan ice cream, scattered with chopped pecan nuts. The sauce will keep in an airtight tub or jar in the fridge for two months.
For more homemade gift ideas from my ‘Christmas Hamper Series’ see:
Christmas Figgy Chutney
Pistachio & Cranberry Biscotti
Beetroot & Chilli Ketchup
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Or see my Pinterest board Edible Gifts: Vegetarian and Vegan
Follow Kate Ford | The Veg Space’s board Edible Gifts: Vegetarian & Vegan on Pinterest.
Never have I wanted to eat something so much right now! Saving this for my week off before Christmas. I’m sure my family will be thrilled 🙂
Sisley White recently posted…Christmas Pudding Cornflake Cakes
OMG this looks positively food porn in it’s highest form!!
Heidi Roberts recently posted…National Maple Syrup Day – 17th December
Ooh what a fabulous idea! Ice cream is so refreshing after a big meal (especially with our currently tropical Christmas weather!) so this would be perfect!
Ooo what a great idea!! I would definitely prefer this to Christmas cake as a post Christmas dinner dessert 😀
Nadia’s Healthy Kitchen recently posted…Christmas Gift Ideas For Healthy Foodies
I LOVE this! Such a fab idea, will make a fantastic festive dessert in the run up to Christmas next week!
Isabella recently posted…Easy No-Bake Blackberry Cheesecakes
What a brilliant idea and I can just imagine how good it smells. I would love this with my mince pies and lots of ice cream!
Laura@howtocookgoodfood recently posted…Spiced turkey cups – Christmas leftovers recipe
In the two days this has been up I keep coming back to it. I made it this evening and it was AMAZING! We served it over some vanilla ice cream we had in the freezer it was delicious 🙂 thank you!!!!!
Emma @ Supper in the Suburbs recently posted…Fig and Walnut Cake
Ah Emma you’ve made my day, thank you! So lovely when someone tries a recipe and it isn’t a disaster! ( but I guess with butter, sugar, cream & golden syrup you can’t go too far wrong….)
This sounds so yummy! I love the Christmas pudding flavours and great ice cream, this sounds like a delicious pairing.