Decadent Christmas Pudding

 

Serve this rich, moist pudding with custard or cream on any special occasion, but for Christmas choose one of the traditional butters or sauces. To follow Grandma's tradition of adding coins to the pudding, you can clean decimal coins by boiling them and slip them in just before serving. Create slits for the coins with a thin, sharp knife.

YOU WILL NEED:

30 g butter, melted, for greasing
1 1/4 cups roughly chopped, ready-to-eat pitted prunes
1 2/3 cups currants
1 1/2 cups sultanas
1 1/2 cups roughly chopped, seedless raisins
3/4 cup mixed candied peel, homemade or bought, chopped
3/4 cup quartered glacé cherries
3/4 cup ground almonds
2 teaspoons mixed spice
250 g packaged suet (solid fat)
1 cup brown sugar
3 1/2 cups soft white or brown breadcrumbs
1 cup plain flour
Finely grated rind of 2 oranges
Finely grated rind of 2 lemons
1 large carrot (about 175 g), peeled and grated
1 large potato (about 175 g), peeled and grated
1 cooking apple (about 175 g), peeled, cored and grated
5 eggs, beaten
2/3 cup brandy, whisky or rum
Sprigs of holly, for decoration
4–6 tablespoons brandy, whisky or rum, for flaming

 

 

HERE'S HOW:

1. Thoroughly grease a 10-cup pudding basin or heatproof mixing bowl with the melted butter. Line the bottom with a round of baking paper and grease the paper. Cut a round of baking paper large enough to cover the top of the basin or bowl and grease it well, too.

2. Put all the pudding ingredients in a very large mixing bowl and mix them thoroughly. Spoon the mixture into the prepared pudding basin or mixing bowl and smooth the surface. Cover the mixture with the greased paper, then cover the basin or bowl with heavy-duty cooking foil, pleated in the centre to allow for expansion. Using strong string, tie the foil securely in position under the rim of the bowl or basin and leave the pudding to stand in a cold place overnight.

3. To cook the pudding, stand it on a trivet, a small block of wood or a folded tea towel in a large saucepan and pour boiling water into the saucepan to come halfway up the side of the bowl or basin. Add some slices of lemon to prevent the saucepan from blackening during cooking, then cover and boil very gently for 9 hours. Replenish the water frequently with more boiling water. Do not use cold water as the pudding basin or bowl may crack.

4. Remove the pudding from the water and discard the foil. Leave to cool, then cover with fresh baking paper and foil. Store in the refrigerator for up to two months.

5. On Christmas Day, steam the pudding in the same way for a further 2–3 hours and then remove the basin or bowl from the saucepan. Pour the brandy, whisky or rum into a cup and stand the cup to heat in hot water.

6. Meanwhile, remove the foil and paper, loosen the sides of the pudding from the basin or bowl with a palette knife and turn the pudding out onto a heated serving plate. Decorate with the sprigs of holly.

7. Take the heated spirit to the table with the pudding. Before serving, remove the sprigs of holly, pour the spirit over the pudding and ignite. Alternatively, pour the spirit into a long-handled ladle, ignite it and, once flaming, pour it over the pudding.

Brandy Sauce

Ingredients for hot rum or brandy sauce

45 g unsalted butter
1/3 cup plain flour
21/2 cups milk
3–4 tablespoons caster sugar
11/4 cups pouring cream
6 tablespoons rum or brandy

Preparation method for hot rum or brandy sauce

1. Melt the butter in a saucepan, stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute, without browning, over low heat. Gradually add the milk and bring to the boil, stirring continuously until the sauce thickens. Reduce the heat and continue stirring for 1–2 minutes to remove all traces of raw flour. Add sugar to taste, then add the cream and rum or brandy. Stir the sauce over the heat for 1–2 minutes, or until hot but not boiling.

2. Pour into a hot serving jug and serve with the pudding. (The sauce can be made ahead and covered with plastic wrap to prevent a skin from forming.)