Chocolate Christmas Pudding Cookies. The only Christmas cookie recipe you need as it is so easy to follow, make and bake. Actually, they are the ideal bake to get the whole family involved in, especially children. Also, think about the chocolate deliciousness that are these festive, fun cookies that are perfect to share.
Hello everyone, how is the run up to Christmas going for you?
This time of year can be completely manic and overwhelming for me and strange as it may seem, a day spent baking and creating, although a luxury, is a great way for me to chill out and really enjoy the festive season.
I have baked these Chocolate Christmas Pudding Cookies twice now, the second batch was larger because they disappeared so quickly the first time! Quick note, since originally posting this recipe these cookies have become a must have Christmas tradition in our home. While certain friends and family also look forward to their cellophane bag of fresh Chocolate Christmas Pudding Cookies neatly tied with a festive bow!
Giving Cookies As Christmas Gifts
Ah the look on our little (teenagers but still my babies) cherubs face as I give these cookies away is priceless! I thought I’d done a pretty good job as a mum, teaching them to share. Apparently not!!! Because I’m sure these cookies would be kept in a locked safe if our children had their way.
Rich chocolate cookies, with a hint of brownie flavour, topped with melted white chocolate and sprinkles. Utterly divine, decadent and delicious and perfect for Christmas baking.
The chocolate smell as these cookies bake will have people knocking at your front door, drawn by the aroma. If it could be bottled, the chocolate smell would be a hit. As it is, we get to bake the cookies and then eat them – sharing of course!
Due to their popularity, I would highly recommend making a double batch of the cookie dough. Since it’s hardly any extra effort and you can choose to bake all the cookies in one hit, or leave half of the dough in the fridge for up to a week.
My Chocolate Christmas Pudding Cookies make perfect presents. Pop a few in a cellophane bag, tie with pretty ribbon and hand out to friends, family, neighbours, the postman. I honestly don’t think a gift made with love by ourselves can be beaten.
Making these cookies is a whizz! Since the cookie dough comes together in moments, then rolled into a log, wrapped in cling film and refrigerated until it is firm. The chocolate, dough log is then sliced and the slices are baked. As soon as the cookies have cooled spoon on white chocolate, add sprinkles and wait to set.
Recipe : Makes approx 25 Chocolate Christmas Pudding Cookies
225g/8oz Unsalted Butter – at room temperature
150g/5oz Light Soft Brown Sugar
1 Large Egg Yolk
1tsp Vanilla Extract – I use Nielsen-Massey
1/4tsp Salt
225g/8oz Plain White Flour
50g/2oz Cocoa Powder – I use Callebaut
100g/4oz White Chocolate
Sprinkles for the top of the cookies, I’ve used holly leaves and berries which I found on Amazon. Alternatively, you can also make the decorations from coloured fondant icing.
Method:
Making the Chocolate Cookie Batter
Wipe your work surface with a clean, damp, cloth. Lay a good length of cling film onto the damp surface – the water ‘sticks’ the cling film in place so that it stays flat and doesn’t move.
Shaping the Cookie Dough
Place the dough log into the fridge for at least 2 hours (it will keep for a week, well wrapped). The dough log needs to be cold and firm before you can slice the cookies.
Preheat the oven to 180/160C fan, gas mark 4, 350F.
Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper (you may need to cook the cookies in batches). Remove the chocolate dough log from the fridge. Dont worry if the bottom of the log has flatted slightly, it just adds to the christmas pudding look.
Slicing And Baking The Chocolate Christmas Pudding Cookies
Place the baking trays into the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, depending how thick/big your cookies are. My cookies took 20 minutes to bake.
It is difficult to tell when the cookies are cooked, due to their colour! They are baked when the surface looks dull however, they don’t set hard until cooled.
As soon as the cookies are baked remove from the oven and allow to cool for at least 15 minutes on the baking tray (it is fine to leave them to cool completely on the tray) you can then move them, using a palette knife to a cooling rack. If after 10 minutes cooling they break when trying to transfer them, pop them back into the oven for another 5 minutes.
Once the cookies have completely cooled it’s time to get creative and frost them WITH CHOCOLATE!
Decorating the Cookies – Childs Play!
Chop or break up your white chocolate and place into a heat proof bowl. Either place the bowl on top of a saucepan as I did here Chocolate Sparkle Cake , or melt the chocolate using a microwave, on medium setting, in short 20 second bursts, stirring after each zap! Remove the bowl just before the chocolate is completely melted and stir continuosly, the heat already in the bowl will melt the remaining chocolate.
Note: When making these cookies with children, if the bowl is hot, decant the melted chocolate into a cool bowl before decorating the cookies.
Using a teaspoon, place the melted chocolate on the top of the cookie, encouraging it to ‘drip’ down the ‘christmas pudding’ with the back of the spoon.
The effect is so easy, yet incredible. These Chocolate Christmas Pudding Cookies really do look like the real thing with cream dripping down from the top.
Storing and Packaging the Cookies
Chocolate Christmas Pudding Cookies last for a week in an air tight container. I used a tin to store ours in and placed a piece of parchment paper between each layer, to keep the cookie’s presentation perfect. This is good advice if you are cooking alone and making these ahead of time.
When baking and decorating these with children, to be completely honest, you will be very lucky to even see the chocolate set!! So it’s rather a nice idea to have some already made and packaged in small cellophane bags, tied with ribbon. This way the children can take home extra cookies to share with their families.
I’m assuming everyone bakes with their children and their friends, when they come round for tea?
If you are a teacher/teaching assistant/child minder or Sunday school teacher, making the undecorated biscuits ahead of time and then letting little and big kids alike decorate their own, is a wonderful pre-Christmas activity.
As well as these Chocolate Christmas Pudding Cookies you may like these other Christmas Bakes:
Cream Cheese Pastry Mince Pies
Peppermint Candy Cane Topped Brownies
Please post photos of your cookies on Twitter/Instagram and tag me in @sammiefeasting. I would love to see what fantastic decorations and creations you bake?
Do you enjoy the build up to Christmas or dread it?
Whatever you do and whoever you bake the with and for, I hope you have lots of fun and these Chocolate Christmas Pudding Cookies bring smiles from all who eat them!
Have a happy Christmas.
Sammie xx
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These look amazing and I’m excited to try them this year! My daughter has an egg allergy and I was wondering if a common replacement like aquafaba could be used for the egg yolk?
Hi Mandy, thank you so much for your question. I have never used any of the more common egg replacements such as aquafaba or flax seeds. The addition of an egg yolk is as a binding agent. Having looked up egg replacements aquafaba is one commonly used. So, it sounds feasible. Please can you let me know how you get on? I would love to include an alternative in the recipe for others who have an egg allergy. Best wishes with your baking, I hope it’s a success. Sammie xx
OMG these cookies are so good. Made them with my daughter as a practise minus the chocolate to test out the recipe. We cannot wait to make some more and decorate them for Christmas.
Hi Suzanne, I’m so glad you like the recipe. Have fun making them for Christmas x.
Can the dough be frozen and then baked? Do I need to defrost? Also would one medium yolk be ok or should I use 2?
Hi Natalie, to achieve the same results as the recipe, I strongly suggest that you use the quantities given. Also the dough should be fully fridge cold before baking. The dough logs are fine to freeze for up to one month, however they should be fully defrosted (overnight) in the fridge. I hope that this helps? Sammie.
Very excited to make these. I live in a hot & humid place so am thinking royal icing a safer option than white chocolate because I want to bag them as gifts. Any thoughts?
Hi Belinda, yes I think royal icing is a perfect alternative. Also, you will need to ensure the cookie dough is very cold before slicing and baking, otherwise it may spread. If it is very warm where you are I’d also suggest chilling the cookies, once cut and prior to baking. Please let me know how you get on? Sammie x
Pam you have made my day. Thank you for taking the time to leave such a wonderful comment. Knowing that you not only enjoyed these, but shared them with your Grandchildren, really is the reason I set up this blog. To create recipes that others would find easy and share the bakes. Xx
Made these outstanding cookies for my Grandchildren,who adore anything Chocolate based.One problem with them,during the making process I found myself wondering that the children might not get a look in once they were baked.The fantastic delicious aroma from the mixture is quite intoxicating and I could have so easily kept them all for myself.However,the Cookies were baked and the verdict from them is,when am I going to make the next batch.Nothing more to say,except you must make them yourselves you will not be disappointed….xxx
These are fantastic. Will be making, taking and baking with grandchildren!! Thanks
Ah Heidi that is so great that you are going to make these with your grandchildren. They will have so much fun, I’m sure. Thanks for leaving such a lovely comment and Merry Christmas to you. Sammie X.
These look fab! I’m going to make some if I get the time!
Thank you Claire. These are so quick to make, pop in the fridge to firm up, whilst you get on with other things! Then slice, bake & decorate. Fab to pop in a cellophane bag, tie with pretty ribbon and give out as gifts, making sure you keep some for yourself 😉 Sammie x
These Christmas cookies look absolutely stunning! So pretty, and festive!
Thanks Marsha. They are certainly loved by everyone who has tried them. They look so pretty on a plate to offer guests when the pop in! Sammie.
I am so with you Sammie! A day spent baking holiday treats with some classic Christmas tunes playing in the background totally gets me in the spirit and puts the stress behind me! These cookies are absolutely precious with the white chocolate and decorations. I have never actually had Christmas Pudding but if they’re anything like the looks of these cookies – I may just be a fan already! Merry Christmas! – Liz
Thank you Liz you really are such a sweetie. I have to say, you would probably hate Christmas Pudding, it’s full of raisins!! But the traditional figgy pudding from which it originates would definitely be your cup of tea! Merry Christmas to you. Sammie xxx
These are adorable. What a lovely idea.
Thanks Jo. They have proved ever so popular with everyone who has tried them. I’m going to bake another double batch next week for gifts. Sammie.
Yes, fab for those who don’t like Christmas pudding and for those that do! Plus you can make and eat these in the run up to Christmas. Sammie.
What a great idea, especially for people who don’t like Christmas pudding!
Thank you Eva. They really are so pretty and very easy to eat 😉! Sammie.
I love how you decorated these to look like ornaments!
WHAT a GREAT idea for gifts! I can see myself making these for friend and family as well as teachers too…….they are so fun and festive! Karen
Thank you Karen. These increase by about a third whilst cooking, so you can easily make them slightly smaller. I really would recommend a double batch, it is barely any extra effort, the reward however, is fantastic. Lots of chocolate christmas pud cookies to give away and a few to keep. Please share them on Twitter, I’d love to see how they turn out. Sammie x.