Christmas Pudding

Christmas Pudding, Plum Pudding or Figgy Pudding – you simply cannot have a Christmas Dinner without the traditional dessert!

Yields10 Servings
Prep Time30 minsCook Time6 hrsTotal Time6 hrs 30 mins
 1 kg Dried Mixed Fruit
 125 g Chopped Almonds
 125 g Candied Peel
 125 g Glace Cherries
 2 Oranges (Grated Rind of)
 2 Lemons (Grated Rind of)
 375 g Plain Flour
 185 g Breadcrumbs
 375 g Suet
 250 g Caster Sugar
 0.25 tsp Salt
 2 tsp Cocoa
 0.50 tsp Grated Nutmeg
 0.50 tsp Mixed Spice
 0.50 tsp Ground Cinnamon
 5 Eggs
 150 ml Brandy
 Milk to Mix
 1 tbsp Black Treacle
1

My wife, Jane, doesn’t like candied peel so I omit the peel from the recipe and add extra dried fruit (1125g mixed dried fruit).

2

Grease and flour 2 basins (850ml)

3

Put all dried ingredients into a mixing bowl.

4

Chop the almonds, candied peel and cherries and mix in with the dried ingredients.

5

Add the grated rind of oranges and lemon, & mix.

6

In a separate bowl, beat the eggs lightly and then add to the mixture, stirring in well. Stir in the brandy and add sufficient milk to give a stiff dropping consistency.

(As a child I remember stirring the Christmas pudding with other family members. I was told to make a wish whilst stirring – I cannot remember if any of my wishes came true! These days I use my Kenwood Chefas my children are away at University).

Spoon in the treacle to colour the mixture, stirring well.

7

(An age-old custom is to put a silver coin in the Christmas pudding. It was meant to bring a year of good luck to whoever found the coin. When my mother in law was newly married she found a silver threepenny bit in her serving of Christmas pudding. She kept the coin and later had it made into a ring. The closest coin nowadays would be the five pence piece - not quite the same!!).

Three quarter fill the prepared basins,

8

& cover with greaseproof paper or foil. (If you fold the greaseproof paper or foil, as shown, this will allow the pudding to have sufficient room to rise).

9

Steam the puddings for 7-8 hours.

Allow to cool & store in the fridge or larder until required.

The day the pudding is required, steam it for a further 6 hours

Most pictures you see of a Christmas pudding have it decorated with a sprig of holly on top. This is a reminder of Jesus’ Crown of Thorns. It is also tradition to pour brandy over the pudding and set light to it, and this is said to represent Jesus’ love and power.
What to serve with Christmas Pudding
Unless you’re like my brother in law who likes evaporated milk, I would suggest either Brandy/Rum Sauce or Custard or Double/Clotted Cream.
For more recipes click here.

10

Most pictures you see of a Christmas pudding have it decorated with a sprig of holly on top. This is a reminder of Jesus’ Crown of Thorns. It is also tradition to pour brandy over the pudding and set light to it, and this is said to represent Jesus’ love and power.

What to serve with Christmas Pudding:

Unless you’re like my brother in law who likes evaporated milk, I would suggest either Brandy/Rum Sauce or Custard or Double/Clotted Cream.

Ingredients

 1 kg Dried Mixed Fruit
 125 g Chopped Almonds
 125 g Candied Peel
 125 g Glace Cherries
 2 Oranges (Grated Rind of)
 2 Lemons (Grated Rind of)
 375 g Plain Flour
 185 g Breadcrumbs
 375 g Suet
 250 g Caster Sugar
 0.25 tsp Salt
 2 tsp Cocoa
 0.50 tsp Grated Nutmeg
 0.50 tsp Mixed Spice
 0.50 tsp Ground Cinnamon
 5 Eggs
 150 ml Brandy
 Milk to Mix
 1 tbsp Black Treacle

Directions

1

My wife, Jane, doesn’t like candied peel so I omit the peel from the recipe and add extra dried fruit (1125g mixed dried fruit).

2

Grease and flour 2 basins (850ml)

3

Put all dried ingredients into a mixing bowl.

4

Chop the almonds, candied peel and cherries and mix in with the dried ingredients.

5

Add the grated rind of oranges and lemon, & mix.

6

In a separate bowl, beat the eggs lightly and then add to the mixture, stirring in well. Stir in the brandy and add sufficient milk to give a stiff dropping consistency.

(As a child I remember stirring the Christmas pudding with other family members. I was told to make a wish whilst stirring – I cannot remember if any of my wishes came true! These days I use my Kenwood Chefas my children are away at University).

Spoon in the treacle to colour the mixture, stirring well.

7

(An age-old custom is to put a silver coin in the Christmas pudding. It was meant to bring a year of good luck to whoever found the coin. When my mother in law was newly married she found a silver threepenny bit in her serving of Christmas pudding. She kept the coin and later had it made into a ring. The closest coin nowadays would be the five pence piece - not quite the same!!).

Three quarter fill the prepared basins,

8

& cover with greaseproof paper or foil. (If you fold the greaseproof paper or foil, as shown, this will allow the pudding to have sufficient room to rise).

9

Steam the puddings for 7-8 hours.

Allow to cool & store in the fridge or larder until required.

The day the pudding is required, steam it for a further 6 hours

Most pictures you see of a Christmas pudding have it decorated with a sprig of holly on top. This is a reminder of Jesus’ Crown of Thorns. It is also tradition to pour brandy over the pudding and set light to it, and this is said to represent Jesus’ love and power.
What to serve with Christmas Pudding
Unless you’re like my brother in law who likes evaporated milk, I would suggest either Brandy/Rum Sauce or Custard or Double/Clotted Cream.
For more recipes click here.

10

Most pictures you see of a Christmas pudding have it decorated with a sprig of holly on top. This is a reminder of Jesus’ Crown of Thorns. It is also tradition to pour brandy over the pudding and set light to it, and this is said to represent Jesus’ love and power.

What to serve with Christmas Pudding:

Unless you’re like my brother in law who likes evaporated milk, I would suggest either Brandy/Rum Sauce or Custard or Double/Clotted Cream.

Christmas Pudding

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