This rich, fruity Hairy Bikers Christmas Pudding Vodka Recipe is made with mixed dried fruit, warming spices, and quality vodka, ready in just over three days. Straining the infused liquid through muslin reveals a deeply coloured, spiced spirit that perfectly captures the festive season. I love keeping a bottle in the freezer to serve as a surprisingly smooth post-dinner treat.

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What Makes This Version Different

Making infused spirits at home often takes weeks or even months of waiting, but this method delivers incredible depth in just three days. The secret lies in the concentrated blend of dried vine fruits and classic pudding spices.

I initially worried the short steeping time would not extract enough flavour, but the high ratio of fruit to alcohol works wonders. Giving the jar a daily shake ensures the sugar dissolves completely and the citrus oils release beautifully.

Hairy Bikers Christmas Pudding Vodka Recipe Ingredients

300g mixed dried fruit (sultanas, currants, raisins)
75g caster sugar
2 cinnamon sticks
2 tsp ground mixed spice
6 cloves
½ whole nutmeg, finely grated
1 orange, zest only
1 unwaxed lemon, zest only
750ml good quality vodka

How To Make Hairy Bikers Christmas Pudding Vodka Recipe

Combine The Base: In a large, sterilized glass jar or mixing bowl, add the dried fruit, caster sugar, cinnamon sticks, mixed spice, cloves, nutmeg, orange zest, and lemon zest.
Add The Vodka: Pour the entire bottle of vodka over the fruit and spice mixture. Stir well to begin dissolving the sugar, then seal the jar tightly or cover the bowl with cling film.
Infuse The Spirit: Place the container in the fridge and leave it to steep for exactly three days. Give the mixture a thorough stir or shake once every day.
Strain The Mixture: Line a fine sieve with a double layer of muslin cloth and set it over a large, clean jug. Pour the infused vodka and fruit into the sieve, allowing the liquid to drip through naturally.
Bottle And Chill: Gather the edges of the muslin and squeeze gently to extract any remaining liquid from the fruit. Pour the strained vodka into a sterilized bottle and chill before serving.

Recipe Tips

Use unwaxed citrus: Since you are using the zest directly in the alcohol, unwaxed lemons and oranges prevent any bitter, artificial residue from spoiling the flavour.
Do not rush the drip: Let the fruit mixture drain through the muslin at its own pace before gently squeezing, which helps keep the final liquid as clear as possible.
Repurpose the fruit: Save the vodka-soaked dried fruit in an airtight container to use in mince pies or spooned over vanilla ice cream.

What To Serve With Christmas Pudding Vodka

Serve this spiced vodka neat straight from the freezer in small liqueur glasses alongside warm mince pies or a slice of rich fruitcake. It also works beautifully mixed into a festive cocktail with ginger ale and a wedge of fresh orange.

How To Store

Store the finished vodka in a sterilized, airtight glass bottle in the fridge or freezer. The alcohol acts as a preservative, meaning it will happily keep for up to six months.

FAQs

Can I use a cheaper brand of vodka?
Yes, the strong flavours of the dried fruit and spices will mask a moderately priced vodka. However, avoid the absolute bottom shelf as it can still leave a harsh burn.

Why is my vodka cloudy?
Some cloudiness is entirely normal due to the dissolved sugar and ground spices. Passing it through an extra layer of muslin a second time can help clarify it further.

Can I leave the fruit in for longer than three days?
You can leave it for up to a week, but the spices may become overpowering. Three days is generally the sweet spot before the cloves and nutmeg take over.

Do I need to keep the infusing jar in the fridge?
While infusing, keeping it in the fridge ensures the fruit stays fresh and the flavours mingle slowly. This results in a much smoother final drink.

Nutrition

Calories: 110 kcal
Total Fat: 0g
Saturated Fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 1mg
Total Carbohydrate: 8g
Protein: 0g

Try More Recipes:

Hairy Bikers Christmas Pudding Vodka Recipe

Recipe by Hamdi Saidani

Servings

servings

Prep time

minutes

Cooking time

hours

Total time

hours

minutes

Hairy Bikers Christmas Pudding Vodka Recipe brings rich, spiced, and fruity notes straight to your festive drinks cabinet in just three days. Using basic dried fruits, warming spices, and fresh citrus zest, this incredibly easy infused spirit makes a brilliant homemade gift.

Ingredients

300g mixed dried fruit (sultanas, currants, raisins)
75g caster sugar
2 cinnamon sticks
2 tsp ground mixed spice
6 cloves
½ whole nutmeg, finely grated
1 orange, zest only
1 unwaxed lemon, zest only
750ml good quality vodka

Directions

Combine The Base: In a large, sterilized glass jar or mixing bowl, add the dried fruit, caster sugar, cinnamon sticks, mixed spice, cloves, nutmeg, orange zest, and lemon zest.
Add The Vodka: Pour the entire bottle of vodka over the fruit and spice mixture. Stir well to begin dissolving the sugar, then seal the jar tightly or cover the bowl with cling film.
Infuse The Spirit: Place the container in the fridge and leave it to steep for exactly three days. Give the mixture a thorough stir or shake once every day.
Strain The Mixture: Line a fine sieve with a double layer of muslin cloth and set it over a large, clean jug. Pour the infused vodka and fruit into the sieve, allowing the liquid to drip through naturally.
Bottle And Chill: Gather the edges of the muslin and squeeze gently to extract any remaining liquid from the fruit. Pour the strained vodka into a sterilized bottle and chill before serving.