Boozy Christmas popsicles

If you’re after an adorably delicious way to use up leftover Christmas pudding, you simply can’t go past these icy poles.

Credit: China Squirrel

• makes

  14

• prep

  20 minutes

• cook

  5 minutes

• difficulty

  Easy

Laden with brandy and plenty of spice, the mixture makes 14 popsicles or a tub of ice-cream — no machine needed! They even come with a melted chocolate and maraschino cherry on top. 

Ingredients

• 200 g day-old Christmas pudding, roughly chopped
• 2 tbsp brandy
• 4 egg yolks
• 125 g (½ cup) caster sugar
• ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 vanilla bean, split in half
• 300 ml thickened cream
• 125 g (½ cup) crème fraîche
• 14 wooden popsicle sticks
• 250 g white chocolate melts
• 12 maraschino cherries or glace cherries

Freezing time overnight

Instructions

Process Christmas pudding in a food processor until crumbs form. If the pudding you are using is very moist, opt to break the pudding into crumbs by hand. Place into a bowl, add brandy and mix well. Set aside.

Place egg yolks and sugar into a medium heatproof bowl, beat with an electric mixer until thick and creamy, about 3-4 minutes. Place the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water and whisk for a further 5 minutes or until mixture doubles in size. Remove from heat and set aside to cool at room temperature. 

Using an electric mixer, whip the cream, nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla seeds until soft peaks form, about 2-3 minutes. Fold the cooled egg custard and pudding crumbs through the whipped cream. Spoon the mix into 80 ml (⅓ cup) capacity popsicle molds. Freeze overnight.

Remove popsicles from freezer and, working quickly, remove each from their molds, placing onto a tray lined with baking paper then return to the freezer until ready to serve.

Melt chocolate in a heatproof bowl over simmering water or in the microwave oven, allowing the mixture to cool but not set.

To serve, drizzle each popsicle with a little melted white chocolate and top with a cherry. Eat immediately.

Recipe, photography, styling and food preparation by China Squirrel.

For plenty more puddings, head here, or check out our Christmas recipe collection. 

Cook's Notes

Oven temperatures are for conventional; if using fan-forced (convection), reduce the temperature by 20˚C. | We use Australian tablespoons and cups: 1 teaspoon equals 5 ml; 1 tablespoon equals 20 ml; 1 cup equals 250 ml. | All herbs are fresh (unless specified) and cups are lightly packed. | All vegetables are medium size and peeled, unless specified. | All eggs are 55-60 g, unless specified.

Laden with brandy and plenty of spice, the mixture makes 14 popsicles or a tub of ice-cream — no machine needed! They even come with a melted chocolate and maraschino cherry on top.