Christmas pudding tends to divide a room — you either love it or you can’t stand it. If your family falls into the “not for us” camp, this alternative rocky road Christmas pudding is the answer. It has all the festive look of a traditional plum pudding, but with the fudgy, chocolatey crunch of a classic rocky road. No baking required, and it’s a great one to make with the kids in the run-up to Christmas Day.
This recipe makes 8 mini rocky road Christmas puddings.
Ingredients:
- 150g (5oz) dark chocolate
- 50g (2oz) butter
- 2 heaped tablespoons golden syrup
- 65g (2½oz) rice cereal (Rice Krispies)
- 100g (3½oz) digestive or rich tea biscuits, crushed
To decorate:
- 65g (2½oz) white chocolate
- 6 to 8 large white marshmallows
- Splash of milk
- Cranberries (fresh or dried) and a mint leaf or green apple skin
Method:
1. Line 8 muffin tins with cling film. Melt the dark chocolate in a saucepan with the butter and golden syrup.
2. Once melted, stir in the rice cereal and crushed biscuits and mix well until fully combined and coated.
3. Divide the mixture equally between the muffin tins, pressing down firmly with the back of a spoon so each pudding is well packed. Chill for at least an hour until firm.
4. Once chilled, carefully pull each pudding from the tin, unwrap and place rounded side up on a wire rack.
5. To decorate, add the marshmallows, white chocolate and a splash of milk to a small saucepan and heat gently until melted. Remove from the heat and cool for 1 minute.
6. Spoon a heaped amount of the white chocolate and marshmallow mixture over each pudding so it runs down the sides, resembling custard on a traditional plum pudding. Leave to cool, then add your cranberries and mint leaves (or green apple peel) to resemble holly.
7. Serve and enjoy!
Tip: For a more traditional Christmas flavour, cut back on the rice cereal and biscuits and swap in some dried fruit and nuts instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make these ahead of time?
Yes — they keep well in an airtight container in the fridge for a few days, so they’re a handy make-ahead treat for Christmas week.
Can I use milk chocolate instead of dark chocolate?
Absolutely. Milk chocolate will give a sweeter, softer set, so you may want to chill the puddings a little longer to firm up.
Are these puddings suitable for freezing?
Yes, you can freeze them before decorating. Wrap them well and defrost in the fridge, then add the white chocolate topping and decorations once thawed.
What can I use instead of marshmallows in the topping?
If you don’t have marshmallows to hand, you can melt the white chocolate with just a splash of milk or cream for a similar drizzle effect.
More Festive Treats to Try
If this alternative Christmas pudding went down well, here are a few more festive kitchen ideas the family will enjoy:
- 12 Kid-Friendly Christmas Recipes That Are Super Easy to Make
- 20 Scrumptious Christmas Pancake Recipes the Family Will Love
- How to Make Polar Bear Marshmallows Perfect for Hot Chocolate
- How to Make Cute Santas from Tomatoes and Cream Cheese
- How to Make Cucumber Christmas Trees
- How to Make a Festive Penguin Snack from Olives and Cheese
Save This for Later
Loved this recipe? Save it to your favourite recipe board or bookmark this page so it’s easy to find again when you’re planning your Christmas baking.
Want More Festive Ideas Like This?
Sign up for our free newsletter for weekly recipes, activities and family ideas delivered straight to your inbox — completely free.
