The perfect Christmas pudding isn’t out of reach (Picture: Getty)

For many, a rich Christmas pud packed with fruit and booze is a must during the festive season.

Of course, life often gets away of doing things like baking, especially when you factor in the need to ‘feed’ the pudding over time with your chosen alcohol, such as rum or brandy.

Perhaps you were slammed at work. Busy buying and wrapping Christmas parcels, hoping to get things out early amid postal strikes.

Or maybe you’re wondering as puddings are made four to six weeks before Christmas (traditionally on Stir-Up Sunday) – while Christmas cakes can be started months in advance, usually around October time.

Whatever the reason, there’s only question remaining: is it too late to start one now?

Let’s find out.

Is it too late to start making a Christmas pudding?

You can still make a Christmas pudding (Picture: Getty)

Breathe a sigh of relief! It’s not too late to start making a Christmas pudding.

While it’s possible to get started earlier, giving time for it to firm up, there are plenty of online recipes available showing you how to make one in early December.

One such recipe comes from BBC Good Food, where you can either make it two to three weeks before Christmas to freeze, or even three days before – when you’ll pop it in the fridge.

If you’re making a sauce or something like icing to dress it, then you’ll want to add that on the day before, the website says.

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Another recipe from Waitrose is also handy for a last-minute make, but requires five to eight hours of steaming time, as well as overnight to steep – so you’d be a bit pressed if you left it until the day before.

Luckily, there is also one you can make on the day of, or day before, Christmas, if you’re in a rush.

This delicious-looking recipe from Great British Bake Off star Prue Leith can be made in just an hour and is best eaten on the day.

In short: if you’re in December, and you’ve yet to start your Christmas pudding – you’ve still got time!

MORE : UK’s ‘first ever’ Christmas pudding pop-up now open

MORE : Christmas food cupboard staples you can buy now that will keep until December 25

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Are puds still possible just weeks, or even days, from December 25?