Top 5 Christmas Pudding Recipes

No Christmas in Britain is complete without pudding. Many families make it using their own recipes, passed down from generation to generation, while many simply buy it at the nearest supermarket. In any case, the British can't imagine the New Year's holidays without this delicacy, just as Russians can't imagine them without Olivier salad.

Traditions and interesting facts about Christmas pudding

Christmas pudding is a traditional dessert in Britain. Its history dates back to the Middle Ages. Originally, it was a meat dish, typically made with game and oblong in shape. Over time, however, the pudding became a festive dessert, and a variety of dried fruits began to be added to the savory filling. Many British families also prefer to make the sweet version with lard, although in modern times, butter can easily be substituted.

According to tradition, the pudding is baked on the 25th Sunday after Easter, approximately three weeks before Christmas. This day was even known as "Stirring Sunday." After all, every family member, from small children to the elderly, took turns mixing the pudding mixture. This dish is also popular in Canada, Australia, the United States, and other former British colonies.

Serving the pudding is also a unique Christmas ritual. After it has matured, it's placed back in the steam bath for at least an hour and a half. Then, while still hot, it's removed, placed on a plate, doused with rum, and set alight. It looks very impressive!

English Christmas pudding

Since pudding is a very ancient dish, different variations can be found in different regions of Britain. If you enjoy experimenting with flavors, be sure to try this version of the dessert with freeze-dried fruit and brandy instead of rum. Moreover, the author of this recipe assures that this filling doesn't need to rest in the refrigerator for 24 hours.

Ingredients:

• Butter - 155 g
• Cane sugar - 110 g
• Raisins - 230 g
• Freeze-dried pineapples - 120 g
• Freeze-dried black currant - 40 g
• Freeze-dried apple - 40 g
• Flour - 60 g
• Ground breadcrumbs - 60 g
• Brandy - 85 g
• Eggs - 2 pcs.
• ½ lemon
• ½ orange
• Spices (cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg) - 1 tsp.

Cooking time: 7-10 hours (+ time for soaking the fruit and for the pudding to mature)

Servings: 1

Step-by-step recipe

Step 1

Prepare all ingredients. The butter should be at room temperature.

Step 2

First of all, grate the zest of half a lemon and an orange on a fine grater, and squeeze out the juice.

Step 3

Add brandy or any other alcohol to the juice and zest.

Step 4

Now add chopped freeze-dried berries and fruits: currants, apples, raisins and pineapple.

Step 5

Mix thoroughly and leave at room temperature for three hours.

Step 6

Place the butter in a deep bowl and cream it with the spices. Add the sugar and cream the mixture again.

Step 7

Beat in the eggs, then add flour and bread crumbs and mix again.

Step 8

Add the fruit mixture and combine until smooth.

Step 9

Grease the pan with butter and pour the pudding batter into it.

Step 10

Cover tightly with several layers of foil to prevent water from getting inside during cooking.

Step 11

Place the container in a water bath and cook for at least 7 hours, constantly adding liquid.

Step 12

Before serving, warm the pudding, remove from the mold and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Plum pudding for Christmas

Plum Pudding literally means "plum pudding" in English, although this has long been a generic name for all varieties of this dessert. There are two possible origins of this name: either from the shape of the muslin bag in which this delicacy was prepared, or from the prunes, which were once an ingredient but were later completely replaced by raisins. This pudding is prepared not only for Christmas but also for Thanksgiving.

Ingredients:

• Raisins - 150 g
• Dried currants - 150 g
• Walnuts - 150 g
• Orange zest - 50 g
• Ground cinnamon - 2 tsp.
• Ground cloves - 1 tsp.
• Nutmeg - 1 tsp.
• Salt - 1 tsp.
• Ground allspice - 1 tsp.
• Brandy - 150 ml
• Eggs - 5 pcs.
• Sugar - 250 g
• Milk - 250 ml
• Flour - 300 g
• Breadcrumbs - 300 g
• Melted butter - 250 ml
• Soda - 1 tsp.

Cooking time: 7-10 hours (+ time for soaking the fruit and for the pudding to mature)

Servings: 1

Step-by-step recipe

Step 1

Grind all the dried fruits to the size of raisins. Add finely chopped nuts and spices to the mixture.

Step 2

It's best to finely grate the whole nutmeg. Also add a teaspoon of salt.

Step 3

Lastly, add brandy to the dried fruits and mix everything thoroughly.

Step 4

In a clean bowl, beat the eggs and sugar until lightly foamy. Add the milk and mix thoroughly.

Step 5

Sift flour into the dough and add breadcrumbs.

Step 6

Pour in the melted butter and add the fruit. Stir.

Step 7

Dissolve the baking soda in a tablespoon of water and add to the dough, mixing again.

Step 8

Pour the pudding into the baking dish and leave in a water bath for 7 to 10 hours.

Step 9

The cooled pudding can be served with custard or whipped cream.

Pudding with raisins and blackcurrants

I offer you another very interesting recipe, which is as close as possible to the original. It is taken from Eliza Acton's well-known "Modern Cookery for Private Families," published in 1845. This English cook, as is well known, was the first to call it "Christmas Pudding."

Ingredients:

• Wheat flour - 75 g
• Breadcrumbs - 75 g
• Lard (can be replaced with butter) - 150 g
• Raisins - 150 g
• Currants - 150 g
• Sliced ​​apple - 150 g
• White sugar - 125 g
• Candied fruits - 50 g
• Spice mix - ½ tsp.
• A pinch of salt
• Brandy - 150 ml
• Eggs - 3 pcs.

Cooking time: 4 hours (+ time for pudding to mature)

Servings: 1

Step-by-step recipe

Step 1

Mix all the dry ingredients: flour, sugar, fruit, and candied fruit. Stir.

Step 2

Add eggs, fat or butter and 100 ml of brandy.

Step 3

Grease the mold with butter and fill it with the mixture. It's best to use a wooden spoon to ensure the mold is completely filled.

Step 4

The original recipe calls for covering the pan with a damp cloth dusted with flour. You can also use foil or a silicone lid.

Step 5

Place the filled mold in a pan of boiling water, making sure the water doesn't come more than halfway up the mold. Let it simmer for about three hours over high heat, adding water constantly.

Step 6

Before serving, remove from the mold, pour over the remaining brandy and set on fire.

Video: Jamie Oliver's Christmas Pudding

Renowned English chef Jamie Oliver offers a unique take on the traditional Christmas pudding. He adds walnuts, candied fruit, and rosemary to the dried fruit mixture, and uses aromatic clementines instead of orange zest. To make the dessert more delicate, the chef adds cream to the batter. The best part about this recipe is that it doesn't need to be set; it can be served immediately!