Figgy Pudding Balls | Raw, Vegan & Gluten Free

This blog post is sponsored by Fruit Bliss. All opinions are my own.

“Now bring us some figgy pudding balls, now bring us some figgy pudding balls, now bring us some figgy pudding balls, the recipe is here!” Yes, you will now be singing this version the rest of the month! These demanding lyrics from the popular Christmas Carol don’t seem unreasonable once you actually taste my figgy pudding balls.

Of course we sing the popular Christmas Carol, “We Wish You A Merry Christmas” every year.

The carol is thought to date from the 16th or 17th century, when carolers demanded refreshments like figgy pudding to keep them going throughout the chilly English nights. (source)

What is Figgy Pudding? It’s also known as “Christmas pudding” or “plum pudding” and, while not as popular here in the states, it’s a staple in British Christmases. “Pudding” refers to cake or dessert, not the creamy custard type pudding we think of. It’s a cake made with raisins, figs and booze. Often it’s lit on fire, too! Yes, it’s a whole thing. Pour booze over it and light it on fire!

I got the idea to do this while looking through my great-grandma’s box of recipes. There was a recipe in it for some kind of ball made with coconut, dates and nuts. While my recipes really have nothing to do with the one I found from the 50s, it got me thinking about how using dried fruits, nuts, seeds, and these types of ingredients is really timeless. A recipe like hers worked in the 50s and guess what? It still works today!

Fruit Bliss' Organic Dried Figs are Soft and Juicy! They are Non-GMO Project Verified, Vegan and Kosher. Their process is minimal as the fruit is dried in the sun and the only thing added is water to steam or dehydrate! Their fruit might seem darker in color, but that’s because they skip the preservatives and added chemicals that give other dried fruits a bright color.

While these Figgy Pudding Balls are great for the holidays, and will also look fabulous on a dessert or appetizer platter, they really are something you can make pretty quickly year round for company, a family get together or just for yourself. Yum! They are quite tasty with your morning or afternoon coffee.

There’s an added brightness to the flavor from orange zest. Just a little bit goes a long way and really makes a big difference.

I don’t want to spoil the ending, but I don’t light these (Goodness! Gracious! Great) balls on fire, but they are so tasty, so give them a try! Also… as the saying goes — the proof is in the (figgy) pudding.

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INGREDIENTS

1 cup raw walnuts

1/2 cup raw almonds

6 Fruit Bliss Organic Dried Figs

2 TB cashew butter

1 tsp cinnamon

Zest of 1/2 orange

1/8 tsp cloves

2 TB maple syrup

Frosting:

3 TB cashew butter

1 TB maple syrup

1 TB orange juice

optional zest on top

Directions:

Place ingredients in food processor and grind blend until “mealy.”

Scoop onto a plate using about 1TB scoop. Place in fridge to firm.

In a small bowl, make frosting and mix cashew butter, maple syrup and orange juice.

Finish with orange zest.