Christmas / Plum / Figgy Puddings

Who's got experience?

I've still got two from last year, so I don't have to do one this year. Fruit starts soaking in mid-November, usually, so the sort of recipe I use probably won't suit you.

King George III Christmas pudding: I make this every year - it's a very old recipe my mother gave me. George III was known as the Pudding King (Georgie Porgie, pudding & pie etc)- it tastes delicious (everyone loves it, including those who say "I don't usually like Christmas pudding")& is very easy to make out of basic ingredients. You just need a bit of time. The long cooking means that everything blends together nicely, so you don't have to be too careful with the measurements (my mother once forgot to put the eggs in & it still turned out ok)

To make an approx 3lb pudding (feeds about 8 people):

250g finely shredded suet (250g)
150g eggs, weighed in shells (= 2 or 3 large)
150g each: sultanas, raisins, currants, chopped prunes & chopped dried apricots
150g sifted flour
150g brown breadcrumbs (= 3 or 4 slices)
150g sugar
½ tsp each cinnamon, ground cloves, nutmeg
1 tsp salt

100ml milk
juice of half a lemon
1 small glass of brandy

Mix dry ingredients & moisten with eggs beaten to a froth. Add milk, lemon juice & brandy mixed.

Leave overnight in a cool place. Next day put into buttered pudding basin, cover with greaseproof paper (or foil) & tie with string. Place basin in a large saucepan, surrounded by water. Boil gently for 8 hours.

It can then be stored for ages to mature (my mother makes 2 every other year - they last that long). Boil for a further 2 hours before turning out & serving. Wonderful, I promise.

thank you so, so much bham!

My father made a bread pudding with panettone this weekend. It was incredible.

Glad you liked it, Remy.

Mine went down very well this year too. Sure enough there was a confirmed Christmas pudding hater at the table who proclaimed it delicious. Happens every time.