My Easy-to-Make Christmas Pudding!

Christmas pudding is also known as plum pudding because of the abundance of prunes in it! The rich and heavy pudding is boiled or steamed, made of a heavy mixture of fresh or dried fruit, nuts and sometimes suet, a raw beef or mutton fat. Vegetarian suet may also be used for a lighter taste. The pudding is very dark, almost black, and is saturated with brandy, dark beer, or other alcohols. They used to be boiled in a "pudding cloth," but today they are usually made in pudding bowls.

A Traditional Christmas Pudding flamed with Brandy

Many people stirred silver coins (for wealth), tiny wishbones (for good luck), a silver thimble (for thrift), a ring (for marriage), or an anchor (for safe harbour) into the mixture, and whoever got the lucky serving, would keep the charm. Ready-made and cooked puddings are now available in the shops but they can never compete with the flavour and the pleasure of making your own!

My Ingredients:

125g ready-to-eat prunes, chopped

225g raisins

225g currants

225g sultanas

Grated rind and juice of 1 lemon

50g chopped almonds

1 cooking apple, peeled, cored and grated

1 medium carrot, peeled and grated

225g demerara sugar

225g suet (I use vegetable suet rather than beef)

125g fresh white breadcrumbs

125g plain flour

½ tsp ground cinnamon

½ tsp ground coriander

½ tsp freshly ground nutmeg

3 eggs

150ml Guinness

1 tbsp black treacle

35ml brandy

It looks like a lot of ingredients but the Christmas Pudding is very easy to make!

My Method:

1. In a large bowl, mix all the dry ingredients together.

2. Whisk the eggs, guinness, brandy and black treacle together and stir into the mixture.

3. Cover and leave to stand overnight in a cool place.

4. Butter three x 600ml pudding bowls and put a circle of greaseproof paper in the base.

5. Pack the mixture into the bowls and smooth the top. Leave about 2.5 cm space to the top of the bowl.

6. Cut a double layer of greaseproof paper into a 30cm circle. Make a pleat and cover each pudding. Tie with string around the edge, then tie with more string to make a handle so that it can be easily lifted in and out of the pan.

7. Put the bowls into a heavy-based saucepan (placing an upturned plate in the bottom of the pot first). Pour boiling water around the edge until it comes two-thirds of the way up the sides of the bowls. Cover with the lid of the pan and simmer for 3 hours. Remember to top up with boiling water every hour.

8. Cool. Put on a new greaseproof or parchment cover, and then cover tightly with foil.

9. Store in a cool dark place until Christmas. The puddings will keep for up to six months.

10. To serve cut into portion sizes and heat in a microwave, on full power, for 2 minutes until piping hot. Warm two tablespoons of brandy in a small saucepan. Set alight and carefully pour over the pudding. Serve with brandy custard cream or brandy butter.

Christmas Pudding with a Brandy Custard Cream!

Brandy Custard Cream

This is a simple and very tasty Christmas cream that I prefer to serve with my Christmas Pudding. Whip 250ml cream until it holds a figure eight shape and stir it into 250ml of cold prepared custard (you can make this yourself or buy it pre-made). Pour in 35ml (one shot) of brandy and add a pinch of grated nutmeg. This can also be served over warmed mince pies for a delightful change to the usual!

Don't forget to Feed the Fish at the Bottom of this Post!

zack