Rich and Decadent Christmas Pudding Recipe

Greetings, dear reader. Are you looking to bring a piece of traditional British Christmas to your festive season? Allow me to introduce you to the star of any classic British Christmas dinner: the Christmas pudding.

Also known as plum pudding or figgy pudding, this moist and rich dessert has been a staple of the holiday season for centuries in the United Kingdom. It’s a truly nostalgic dish that evokes an old-fashioned charm and invokes memories of happy family gatherings around the fire.

But what exactly is this iconic dish made of, you may ask? A combination of dried fruit, suet, flour, and spices, topped off with a healthy serving of brandy. This pudding is not only indulgent but symbolic too – it was traditional for families to gather together on Stir-up Sunday – usually the last Sunday before Advent – and stir up the ingredients whilst making a wish for the coming year.

Following this recipe, you’ll be able to recreate this classic dish for your own festivities. So why not give yourself and loved ones a taste of nostalgia and incorporate our traditional British Christmas Pudding into your holiday traditions?

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

As the weather grows colder and snow starts falling, there is nothing quite like a warm, hearty dessert to bring that feeling of comfort and joy during the holiday season. And what better way to achieve this than with a traditional British Christmas pudding recipe?

This pudding recipe has been passed down for generations in the UK, and it’s easy to see why – it’s moist, rich, and filled with an assortment of dried fruits like raisins, currants, and even green and red cherries. The blend of these ingredients perfectly encapsulates the essence of Christmas, making it an essential staple of any proper holiday feast.

Every bite will give you that cozy feeling you crave as the days grow shorter and the nights longer. Not only that, but this pudding recipe also makes for an enticing centerpiece on any dining table thanks to its beautiful brown sugar coloration. No other dessert can compare when it comes to capturing the festive spirit in such an authentic way.

So if you’re looking for a dish that will put a smile on everyone’s face during the holidays, look no further than this British Christmas pudding recipe. It’s truly one of the best Christmas pudding recipes out there!

Ingredient List

Here are the 13 ingredients that you will need for this traditional British Christmas pudding recipe:

• 220 g/1 3/4 cups dried mixed fruit
• 150 g/3/4 cup raisins
• 150 g/3/4 cup currants
• 120 g/1 cup golden raisins (sultanas)
• 60 g/1/2 cup candied fruit peel, finely chopped
• 1 small apple, peeled and grated
• 120 g/3/4 cup plain (all-purpose) flour
• 100g/3½oz shredded beef suet or vegetarian suet
• 110 g/1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground nutmeg
• Pinch of salt
• Grated zest and juice of half a lemon

Note: You can use brandy or rum to replace the lemon juice.

The Recipe How-To

Now that we have familiarized ourselves with the key ingredients necessary for this traditional British Christmas pudding, it’s time to delve into the how-to behind actually making such a delectable dessert. Follow these steps to make your very own Christmas pudding:

Step 1: Prepping and Mixing Ingredients

• In a mixing bowl, combine the dried mixed fruit (including raisins, sultanas, and currants), candied fruit peel, and finely chopped apples.

• In a separate bowl, cream together the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Then add in the beaten eggs along with a spoonful of the measured out flour mixture to avoid curdling. Mix well to combine.

• Sift over the remaining flour mixture and fold in until combined with the egg mixture.

• Stir through the fruit mixture, making sure it’s mixed evenly.

Step 2: Steaming Pudding

• Grease your bowl with butter.

• Spoon your mix into your pudding basin ensuring it is packed tightly.

• Cut a circle of baking paper, bigger than the rim of the basin then butter another circle the same size.

• Cover top of pudding ingredients with buttered baking paper circles.

• Place pudding cover on top of string and tie securely.

• You can either place in a pan filled halfway up with water or use an Instant Pot for steaming.

  • For Instant Pot: Pour 1 cup of water into your Instant Pot. Place pudding onto trivet in Instant Pot making sure there is enough space to seal lid. Pressure cook for at least 120 minutes.
  • For stove-top steaming: Steam over low heat on stove-top for 6 hours. Once done cooking let sit for at least 3 hours before eating.

Step 3: Serving and Pairing

• Serve with brandy or rum sauce, ice-cream or whipped cream.

• This classic pudding comes with so much history and tradition. It’s such an important part of a traditional British holiday that it’s even known as figgy pudding in reference to the carol “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”

With these steps, you can perfect one of the best Christmas pudding recipes out there. So what are you waiting for? Stir up Sunday is coming!

Substitutions and Variations

When it comes to British Christmas pudding, there are a few ingredients that can be substituted or varied based on your taste preferences. Here are some suggestions:

– If you prefer a lighter version of the traditional British Christmas pudding, try using butter instead of suet. This will result in a slightly different texture and flavor, but still retain the classic richness.

– Dried mixed fruit can vary widely depending on the brand, so feel free to experiment with different combinations of raisins, currants, and candied fruit peel. You could also try adding dried apricots or figs for an extra flavor boost.

– If you don’t have green and red cherries on hand, feel free to use all red cherries or substitute with chopped dried apricots or cranberries for a pop of color.

– For a non-alcoholic version of the pudding, you can substitute the brandy or rum with orange juice or apple cider.

– To make individual servings of the pudding, you could use muffin tins or ramekins instead of a large pudding basin. Just adjust the cooking time accordingly.

Remember, these variations may affect the final taste and texture of your Christmas pudding. It’s always a good idea to test out these substitutes before serving them to guests during the holidays. With some experimentation, you might just find a new twist on this classic British dessert that becomes a family favorite.

Serving and Pairing

When it comes to serving traditional British Christmas pudding, there are a few things to keep in mind. First and foremost, you’ll want to make sure your pudding is nice and moist. It should be rich and dense, with plenty of dried fruit throughout.

To serve the pudding, you can either turn it out onto a plate or serve it straight from the dish. Some people like to flambe the pudding with brandy or rum for a dramatic effect – just be sure to do this in a well-ventilated area and use caution when lighting the alcohol!

For pairing, there are quite a few options. Some people like to serve Christmas pudding with a warm brandy sauce, which adds an extra layer of richness to the dessert. Others prefer custard or vanilla ice cream as a topping. And if you’re feeling really decadent, you could even serve Christmas pudding with clotted cream!

As for drinks, many people enjoy a cup of tea alongside their Christmas pudding. You could try a classic British tea like Earl Grey or Darjeeling, or something festive like a spiced chai. For those who want something stronger, a glass of old-fashioned brandy or port would be a lovely choice.

Ultimately, how you serve and pair your Christmas pudding will depend on your personal preferences and traditions. Just remember that this is a rich and hearty dessert that’s perfect for celebrating the holiday season – so enjoy it however you like best!

Make-Ahead, Storing and Reheating

As with most traditional British puddings, this Christmas pudding can be made well in advance and stored for several weeks before serving. In fact, it’s often recommended to make it a few weeks before Christmas and steam it again for a couple of hours right before the big day. This approach allows the flavors to meld together well and gives the pudding enough time to mature.

Once you’ve cooked your Christmas pudding, allow it to cool completely then wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Store it in a cool, dry place, like a pantry or cellar. If you prefer, you can store it in the fridge for extra reassurance, but this is not necessary.

When it comes to reheating your Christmas pudding, there are two main approaches you can take. You can re-steam it in a pot or use the microwave.

If you choose to re-steam your pudding, unwrap it and place it back into the pudding basin. Then cover the basin with parchment paper and foil and steam on low heat for around 2 hours.

Alternatively, you can microwave individual slices of the pudding. Simply place one slice in a microwave-safe dish and heat on high for 30 seconds to 1 minute.

No matter which method you choose, be sure to let the pudding cool slightly before slicing and serving it up with some brandy sauce or old-fashioned vanilla custard.

By following these steps, your moist and rich Christmas pudding will stay fresh and delicious long past its initial cooking date so that you can enjoy the best possible flavors of this traditional British celebration dessert.

Tips for Perfect Results

In order to have the best possible outcome for your English Christmas pudding, there are some tips that I highly recommend you follow. Traditional British Christmas pudding is a classic dessert that requires attention to detail and a bit of patience, so take your time and use these tips for perfect results.

1. Suet: Always make sure to use fresh suet for your pudding recipe. Old or rancid suet will ruin the flavor and texture of your pudding, making it dense and greasy. You can easily find suet in the refrigerated section of your local grocery store or butcher.

2. Dried Fruit: It is crucial to properly measure and chop all the dried fruit ingredients before mixing them together with the other ingredients. Make sure to chop them into bite-sized pieces and remove any stems, pits, or stones if necessary. Using high-quality, moist dried fruit will ensure a rich and flavorful pudding.

3. Mixing: To avoid over-mixing your pudding batter, stop stirring as soon as you see that all of the ingredients are evenly distributed. Overly mixing can cause extra gluten development in the flour and result in a tough and chewy texture.

4. Steaming: When steaming your Christmas pudding, be sure not to overfill the basin as it may cause the excess batter to boil over and make a mess in your oven. Also, be very careful when handling hot steam and make sure to use proper oven mitts and a lid when steaming.

5. Storage: After it has cooled down, store your Christmas pudding in an air-tight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks or in the refrigerator for up to 2 months. When reheating, steam again for about 2-3 hours or until heated through.

By utilizing these tips, you can ensure that your English Christmas pudding turns out moist, rich, and full of flavor – making it the perfect centerpiece dessert for any holiday gathering.

FAQ

Moving onto the FAQ section, I’ll anticipate some of the common questions around this English Christmas Pudding recipe – from storage and reheating, to how to make it moist and rich. So, let’s dive in!

What is English Christmas pudding made of?

The traditional Christmas pudding is commonly composed of dried and candied fruits along with citrus zests, heavily packed into a sticky and dense sponge cake. The flavors of cinnamon, brandy, rum, and other spices are often used to enhance its texture and taste.

What are the 13 ingredients in Christmas pudding?

When making a Christmas pudding, it is customary to use a combination of 13 specific ingredients. These ingredients are believed to symbolize Jesus and his 12 disciples. Some of the typical ingredients that are used in making this dish are suet, raisins, currants, brown sugar, breadcrumbs, citron, lemon peel, orange peel, flour, mixed spices, eggs, milk and brandy.

What is the tradition of Christmas pudding in England?

In traditional British households, it was customary for every individual to contribute to the making of the pudding by taking turns stirring it and making a wish. The act of stirring the pudding by three times and making a wish was considered to bring good luck and prosperity. It was believed that unmarried individuals who failed to participate in the pudding-making ritual would be unlikely to find a partner in the coming year.

Is a British Christmas pudding the same as an American fruit cake?

If you assume that Christmas Pudding and American fruitcake are alike, you’re partly right, but not entirely. These two desserts contain dried fruits, nuts, and aromatic spices and are soaked for an extended time. However, there are significant differences between the two.

Is figgy pudding the same as Christmas pudding?

This beloved dessert, known by its various names such as Christmas pudding, plum pudding, or simply “pud,” is none other than figgy pudding.

Bottom Line

Now that you have learned all about this traditional British Christmas pudding recipe, I hope you feel inspired to try it out for yourself. This recipe ingredients list may seem daunting at first, but trust me when I say that the end result is worth every bit of effort.

Not only is this pudding one of the best Christmas pudding recipes out there, but it also carries with it a rich history and tradition that will transport you to a time long gone. And who knows, as you stir up the ingredients on Stir-up Sunday and make a wish, perhaps some of that magic will rub off on you.

So go ahead and give this recipe a try! Whether you choose to serve it with brandy sauce or old-fashioned rum butter, one thing is for sure: your guests will not forget this delectable dessert anytime soon.

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