Air-Fried Christmas Pudding: A Festive Treat?

Christmas pudding is a traditional dessert, but can you put it in an air fryer? The answer is yes! You can cook a Christmas pudding in an air fryer in just a few minutes. While a microwave is often thought to be the best way to cook this dessert, an air fryer can be a great alternative if you don't have one. Simply prepare your Christmas Pudding mix as usual and pop it in the air fryer. It will crisp up the outer layer beautifully while maintaining a moist, dense texture inside.

Christmas pudding cooking time and temperature

Christmas pudding can be cooked in an air fryer in just a few minutes. However, the exact cooking time and temperature will depend on the size and model of your air fryer, as well as the size of your Christmas pudding.

As a general rule of thumb, if you are using a recipe designed for a conventional oven, reduce the cooking time by 20% and lower the temperature by 20 degrees Celsius to account for the air fryer's efficiency. So, for example, if a recipe calls for baking a Christmas pudding at 180 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes, you would cook it in your air fryer at 160 degrees Celsius for 24 minutes instead.

It's important to keep in mind that air fryers can vary significantly in size and functionality, so it's always a good idea to keep a close eye on your pudding as it cooks and adjust the time and temperature as needed.

Additionally, if you are reheating leftover Christmas pudding in an air fryer, it's best to wrap it in foil to prevent it from drying out.

Christmas pudding alternatives in the air fryer

Air fryers are becoming an increasingly popular alternative to cooking Christmas dinner in the oven. They are more energy-efficient, healthier, and quicker than traditional ovens.

If you're looking for an alternative to the traditional Christmas pudding, there are a few delicious options you can make in your air fryer.

One option is to make mini chocolate Christmas pudding cakes. These gooey treats are cooked in just a few minutes in the air fryer and can be served with a dusting of powdered sugar or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Another option is to make a whisky figgy pudding. Instead of steaming or baking for hours, you can pop your pudding mix into the air fryer, where it will develop a crispy outer layer while retaining a moist, dense texture inside.

If you're looking for something a little different, you could try making air-fried mince pies. These can be prepared ahead of time and cooked in your air fryer, making them a convenient choice for a Christmas dessert.

So, if you're looking to mix up your Christmas dessert options this year, why not give one of these air-fried alternatives a go? They're sure to impress your guests and make your life a little easier.

Air fryer Christmas dinner hacks

Air-Fryer Christmas Dinner Hacks

Timing and Temperature

Timing is everything when cooking your Christmas dinner. To make your life easier, consider swapping out the multiple timers needed to keep track of the food in the oven for a dual-zone air fryer. This will allow you to cook at different temperatures simultaneously, saving time and freeing up oven space.

Turkey

If you're cooking for a large group, you'll need to use an oven, as an air fryer big enough for a whole turkey doesn't exist yet. However, if you're catering to fewer people, you can cook a turkey crown or leg in an air fryer. Wrap your turkey in tin foil and cook at 160°C for two hours for the crown and one hour for the leg. Then, whack up the heat to 200°C for 15 minutes to get some browning on the skin.

Vegetables

The air fryer is perfect for cooking your veggies. There's no need to parboil potatoes before putting them in the air fryer—simply give them a shake halfway through cooking, which should be about 30-40 minutes in total. You can also cook sprouts in the air fryer—use frozen sprouts and slice them in half to speed up the cooking time.

Christmas Pudding

You can cook a Christmas pudding in an air fryer in just a few minutes. If you want to serve a moist pudding, opt for an air fryer with a steam function.

Yorkshire Puddings

Yorkshire puddings are a must for a Christmas dinner. The recipe will be the same as for oven cooking, but you'll only need to heat up the greased tray for 10 minutes, and the cooking time can be as low as five minutes.

Air fryer Christmas cookies

Air fryers are a great alternative to cooking Christmas dinner, and they can also be used to make delicious Christmas cookies! Here are some tips and tricks to help you get started:

Tips for Making Cookies in the Air Fryer:

• Don't preheat the air fryer. Starting the air fryer without preheating ensures the cookies will cook evenly and not cook too fast on the bottom.
• Use parchment paper for easy cleanup and to prevent the cookie dough from seeping through the grates.
• Let the cookies cool for a few minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack.
• The air fryer is perfect for baking small batches of cookies, and you can save any leftover dough in the freezer for later.

Air Fryer Christmas Cookie Recipes:

• Gingerbread Cookies
• Christmas Brownie Mix Cookies
• Peanut Butter Blossoms
• Snowball Cookies
• Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies
• Gingersnap Cookies
• White Chocolate Chip Peppermint Cookies
• Thumbprint Cookies
• Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Peanut Butter Cookies
• Snickerdoodle Cookies

Air Fryer Sugar Cookies:

For sugar cookies, you'll need the following ingredients:

• Granulated White Sugar or Cane Sugar
• Vanilla Extract
• Dairy-Free Butter
• Dairy-Free Milk
• All-Purpose Flour
• Baking Powder
• Salt
• Powdered Sugar
• Corn Syrup
• Food Coloring (optional)
• Cream softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
• Add vanilla extract and room-temperature milk. Mix until incorporated and fluffy.
• Sprinkle flour, baking powder, and a pinch of salt on top. Mix dry ingredients with a fork, then mix into a soft dough.
• Form into a ball, cover in plastic wrap, and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes to an hour.
• Preheat the air fryer and line the basket with parchment paper.
• On a floured surface, roll out the dough to about 1/4" thick.
• Cut out the cookies with cookie cutters.
• Air fry at 320°F for 7-8 minutes for cookies larger than 1"x1". For smaller cookies, air fry for 5-6 minutes.
• Optional: Make a simple icing by mixing powdered sugar, plant milk, and corn syrup. Place the icing in a piping bag and ice the cooled cookies.

Other Tips for Amazing Sugar Cookies:

• Preheat the air fryer to ensure even heat in the cavity.
• Accurately measure the flour to prevent cookies from becoming too puffy and cake-like.
• Use air fryer parchment with perforations to help air circulation and even baking.
• Do a test with one cookie first, as air fryer strengths can vary. Adjust the temperature or time as needed.

Air fryer Christmas breakfasts and brunches

Air-Fryer Christmas Breakfasts and Brunches

If you're looking to create a delicious Christmas breakfast or brunch spread with your air fryer, there are plenty of options to choose from! Here are some ideas to get you started:

Savoury Dishes

For a savoury breakfast, you can use your air fryer to cook a full English breakfast, including bacon, sausages, grilled tomatoes, mushrooms, and hash browns. You can also air fry thick-cut back bacon, thin-cut back bacon, streaky bacon, or bacon medallions. If you're feeling adventurous, try air-frying black pudding slices for a crispy exterior and soft interior.

For a heartier option, you can make an air fryer breakfast frittata by combining eggs, cheese, bell peppers, and breakfast sausage in a cake pan that fits in the air fryer basket. You can also make air fryer Scotch eggs, which are hard-boiled eggs wrapped in sausage and cooked in the air fryer for a crispy exterior.

Sweet Treats

If you have a sweet tooth, you can use your air fryer to make French toast sticks, which are soaked in a vanilla-infused egg custard and rolled in crushed cornflakes. Or, try making air fryer apple fritters, which are full of cinnamon flavour and come with a browned butter glaze.

For a festive twist, air fryer French toast cups with raspberries, cream cheese, and a touch of maple syrup are sure to impress. Or, keep things simple with air fryer cinnamon breakfast bites, which are like homemade cinnamon doughnut holes without the mess of deep-frying.

Christmas Pudding

And, of course, you can't forget the Christmas pudding! You can use your air fryer to cook or reheat your Christmas pudding, giving it a crispy outer layer while maintaining the moist, dense texture inside.

So, this festive season, get creative with your air fryer and enjoy a delicious Christmas breakfast or brunch spread with your loved ones!

Frequently asked questions