Classic Christmas pudding is a rich, indulgent dessert that has been a festive tradition for centuries. Known for its deep flavors and dense texture, this iconic dessert is a must-have during the holiday season in many British households. With a blend of dried fruits, spices, and suet, it’s a dessert that captures the essence of Christmas in every bite.
The preparation of Christmas pudding is a labor of love, as it typically involves mixing together a variety of ingredients such as raisins, currants, sultanas, and candied peel. Ground spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice give the pudding its signature warm, aromatic flavor. The mixture is then combined with suet, breadcrumbs, flour, and sugar, along with eggs and a generous splash of dark ale or brandy. The combination of these ingredients creates a moist, sticky batter that’s perfect for steaming.
Once the pudding mixture is prepared, it’s transferred into a pudding basin, where it is tightly covered and steamed for several hours. The slow steaming process allows all the flavors to develop and intensify, creating a rich, dense pudding. It’s traditional to steam the pudding on Christmas Day, adding to the anticipation and festive spirit of the occasion.
On Christmas Day, the pudding is carefully removed from the basin and served hot, often with a sprig of holly on top for decoration. It’s traditionally accompanied by brandy butter, custard, or cream, making each bite even more indulgent. A fun tradition is to flame the pudding with brandy just before serving, adding a dramatic flair and symbolizing the warmth and spirit of the holiday season.
Classic Christmas pudding is a dessert steeped in history, with its deep, fruity, and spicy flavors representing the heart of Christmas celebrations. It’s the kind of dish that brings family and friends together, creating memories and traditions that are passed down for generations. If you’ve never had it before, it’s a must-try treat that brings a taste of British holiday cheer to your table.
Ingredients
- 100 grams raisins Seedless are preferred
- 100 grams sultanas
- 100 grams currants
- 100 grams mixed peel Finely chopped
- 150 grams dark brown sugar
- 150 grams breadcrumbs Fresh
- 150 grams suet Vegetarian or beef
- 1 teaspoon mixed spice
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg Freshly grated if possible
- 75 grams plain flour Sifted
- 3 eggs Beaten
- 150 ml stout
- 2 tablespoons black treacle
- 1 lemon Zested and juiced
- 1 apple Peeled and grated
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix together the raisins, sultanas, currants, mixed peel, brown sugar, breadcrumbs, suet, mixed spice, nutmeg, and flour.
- In a separate bowl, beat the eggs and stir in the stout, black treacle, lemon zest and juice, and grated apple.
- Combine the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients, mixing thoroughly until everything is well combined.
- Spoon the mix into a greased pudding basin and level the top. Cover with a double layer of baking parchment and a layer of foil, securing with string.
- Steam the pudding in a large saucepan or steamer for 7 hours, ensuring the water remains halfway up the side of the basin.
- Allow the pudding to cool in the basin, replace the parchment and foil if needed, and store in a cool, dry place to mature.
- On Christmas Day, steam the pudding for a further 2 hours before serving with your choice of accompaniment.
Nutrition
This is a Christmas tradition in my family. I love making it each year and the smell while it’s steaming… divine! Perfect recipe!
That sounds lovely! Christmas pudding is a must for the holidays. I can almost smell it just from your description!
Really? Stout in pudding? Sounds weird, but I gave it a shot. Turned out pretty good! Who knew??
This pudding was a disaster; it just wouldn’t set! Followed the recipe exactly and it turned out mushy. Disappointed!