Description
This Spiced Plum Christmas Pudding is a classic festive dessert, rich with dried fruits, warm spices, and a touch of brandy. Steamed to perfection, it offers a moist, flavorful treat that embraces cozy holiday traditions. Perfect for an indulgent Christmas celebration with family and friends.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruits
- 200g dried plums, chopped
- 100g raisins
- 100g sultanas
Dry Ingredients
- 100g brown sugar
- 200g breadcrumbs
- 100g self-raising flour
- 2 tsp mixed spice
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Wet Ingredients
- 3 large eggs
- 100ml milk
- 50ml brandy
- Zest of 1 lemon
- Zest of 1 orange
Instructions
- Prepare the fruits: Chop the dried plums into small pieces and combine them with the raisins and sultanas in a large mixing bowl to ensure even distribution of the fruits in the pudding.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, self-raising flour, brown sugar, mixed spice, and cinnamon thoroughly to blend the flavors and create a uniform dry base.
- Add wet ingredients: Crack the eggs into the dry mixture, then pour in the milk, brandy, and add the lemon and orange zest. Mix these ingredients well to form a thick batter.
- Combine fruits and batter: Fold the chopped fruits gently into the batter until fully incorporated, making sure the mixture is evenly textured with fruit throughout.
- Transfer to pudding basin: Grease a pudding basin lightly, then pour the mixture into it, pressing down gently to remove air pockets and level the surface.
- Cover the basin: Cover the top of the pudding basin tightly with parchment paper, then wrap with foil to prevent water from seeping in during steaming.
- Steam the pudding: Place the pudding basin in a steamer or large pot with water at a simmer. Steam the pudding for 6 hours, topping up the water as necessary to ensure it does not boil dry, allowing the pudding to cook slowly and absorb the steam.
- Cool and store: Once steamed, remove the pudding carefully, let it cool completely while still covered, then store in a cool place until needed to develop flavors.
- Reheat before serving: To serve, reheat the pudding by steaming for an additional 2 hours to warm it through and revive its moist texture.
Notes
- Ensure the water level is maintained during steaming to avoid burning the pudding basin.
- This pudding can be made weeks in advance, allowing the flavors to mature.
- For a richer flavor, brush the pudding with a little brandy before reheating and flaming it when serving.
- If you do not have a pudding basin, use a heatproof bowl covered tightly with foil and parchment paper.
- Steaming is a gentle cooking method that preserves moisture, making the pudding moist and tender.
