A traditional classic Christmas pudding. Rich, dark fruity but not too heavy, it is a popular part of the festive dinner. Christmas just wouldn't be the same without the Christmas pud!.
Stir up Sunday is the day that traditionally people make their Christmas pudding to give the flavour time to mature by Christmas day.
Falling on the last Sunday before advent for me it is the day that I really start to think about Christmas or more specifically what foods I might like to cook this year, which favourites stay on the menu, and which new ones to add. – I always like to try a few new recipes each year.
Being a bit of a traditionalist, I also like to make my Christmas pudding and Christmas cake and may be a batch of Easy homemade mincemeat on Stir up Sunday if I can.
A traditional figgy Christmas pudding
Christmas puddings as we know them today consisting of flour, fruits, suet, sugar and spices, goes back to Victorian times when it was sometimes called a plum pudding,(the early term for raisins was plums).
This recipe is based on one I have been using for as long as I can remember. Thinking of words of a popular Christmas Carol "Now bring us some figgy pudding" some years back I decided to put some figs back into figgy pudding in my Christmas puddings rather than just use the usual raisins, sultanas and currants.
I loved it and I have used this recipe ever since. It was even one of the very first recipes, I published on Recipes Made Easy before I had even gone public with the site.
This mixture is enough to make one large and one small pudding. If you don't need two puddings, after cooking why not wrap one up in muslin, tie with a pretty ribbon and give it to a friend?
Some years I make several individual puddings by steaming them in teacups, once cold they are turned out and wrapped in cling film then muslin. Perfects gifts for those who might otherwise miss out on homemade pud.
But don't worry if you don't have time to make it on stir up Sunday or you are running a little late. I can assure you it will still taste delicious, even on the day its made.
When it is freshly made the flavours of all the different fruits and spices are a little more distinctive. Over time it mellows and matures to a more homogenous flavour both styles are equally different. Once made the pudding will keep even keep for up to a year.
It's true that very often come Christmas day we are all a bit too full after all the turkey, stuffing and pigs in blankets to really need a dessert (let alone a selection of desserts which I usually offer) but Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without a classic Christmas pudding.
Luckily it is fun to make and tastes so much better than a shop-bought pud so I am more than happy to make one and come to that to be the one who finishes up the leftover pudding after Christmas.
Don't be put off by the long Ingredient list
Despite the long list of ingredient Christmas pudding is really easy to make. It is basically just a matter of adding all the ingredients in a large bowl and giving it a good mix. Then piling into pudding basins and steaming.
Cook's tip
When you have a long list of ingredients, it is a good idea to get all the ingredients out and weigh them before you start. That way you are less likely to miss any out.
Now, perhaps I should be clearer, when I say I make my puddings on Stir up Sunday what I really mean is I mix up the pudding on the Saturday and steam it on the Sunday.
Make a wish
Leaving it to stand overnight to allow the flavours to blend, then on the Sunday there is plenty of time to give it one final mix. Inviting the family to give the pudding a stir and make a wish – it's been a few years since they last did that though, them being all grown up and that! But I'm still happy to carry on the tradition.
Steaming the pudding
Once packed into pudding basins the puddings need to be steamed for at least 6 hours. See here for how to cover and cook your the puddings. By the end of that time, the house is warm, cosy, and filled with the smell of sugar and spice and all things nice.
Remember to check the water levels frequently when cooking to ensure the pan does not boil dry.
How to cook a Christmas pudding in a pressure cooker or Instant pot
If you have a pressure cooker or Instant pot you can dramatically cut down the amount of time it takes to cook the pudding.
Place the trivet and the basket in the base of the pressure cooker and place the bowl in the basket. Fill the pressure cooker with cold water to approximately 20mm below the top of the bowl.
Secure the pressure cooker lid and bring to high pressure once pressure is reached maintain the pressure for 1 to 1 ½ hours for the larger pudding and 45 minutes to 1 hour for the smaller pudding.
Remove the pressure cooker from the heat or turn off and allow the pressure to reduce naturally. When the pressure has been released remove the pudding and allow to cool.
To serve the pudding
On Christmas Day, steam it for 1-2 hours or reheat in the microwave. Once you have reheated the pudding, turn it out onto a serving plate (you may need to loosen the edges with a knife serve decorated with a sprig of holly. If you like you can douse it with warmed brandy and set it alight. Allow flames to subside and go out completely before serving.
Serve with custard, cream brandy or rum butter or brandy or rum sauce.
Fancy a little tipple with your pudding serve with a sweet dessert wine, sweet sherry or port or for a delicious fruity homemade tipple my Christmas vodka.
To reheat in the microwave
Remove the foil and leave covered with baking parchment. Reheat at medium power (based on an 800 W microwave) for 4 minutes. Allow to stand for 2 minutes, then cook again for a further 4 minutes on medium power.
To reheat in a pressure cooker
Place the trivet and the basket in the base of the pressure cooker and place the bowl in the basket. Fill the pressure cooker with boiling water to approximately 2cm (1in) below the top of the bowl.
Secure the pressure cooker lid and bring to high pressure once pressure is reached maintain the pressure for 30 minutes.
To reheat in an Instant Pot
When ready to cook, place the pudding on the trivet with boiling water to approximately 2cm (1in) below the top of the bowl.
Set the Instant Pot to 20 minutes on Steam (close the Valve). You can then do a quick pressure release and serve straight away or leave it to release pressure naturally and leave it for an hour or two on Keep Warm until you are ready for it.
Classic Christmas Pudding Step by step
Classic Christmas pudding
Equipment
- pudding basins
- baking parchment
- foil
- string
- steamer or large saucepan with lid
Ingredients
- 125 g (4oz) white breadcrumbs
- 50 g (2oz) plain flour (US=All Purpose)
- 125 g (4oz) vegetable suet
- 225 g (8oz) dark muscovado sugar
- 125 g (4oz) sultanas
- 125 g (4oz) raisins
- 50 g (2oz) currants
- 150 g (5oz) dried figs chopped
- 150 g (5oz) dried dates chopped
- 50 g (2oz) diced mixed peel
- 50 g (2oz) glacé cherries halved or quartered
- 50 g (2oz) almonds chopped
- 1 small cooking apple peeled cored and grated
- finely grated zest and juice of 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoon black treacle
- 1 teaspoon ground mixed spice
- ½ teaspoon grated nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 large eggs
- 175 ml (6floz) sweet white wine or stout
- butter for greasing
- rum or brandy to serve (optional)
Instructions
- Place the breadcrumbs, flour, suet and sugar in a large mixing bowl and stir until well blended.
- Stir in the sultanas, raisins, currants, figs, dates, mixed peel, cherries and almonds and mix well.
- Add all the remaining ingredients and stir again. Cover the bowl and leave overnight to allow the flavours time to blend.
- Spoon into one 1.2litre (2½pt) and one 600ml (1¼pt) well greased basins and press down well. Cover with a sheet of greaseproof paper or baking parchment. Then cover with foil and tie securely with string. Steam the pudding for 6 – 8 hours, topping up the water as required.
- Once cooked remove from the steamer or pan and remove the covers. Allow to cool completely then cover again with fresh parchment and foil. Store in a cool dry place until Christmas.
- To serve. Steam the puddings for another 2–3 hours. Turn out onto a warm plate. Heat a little brandy or rum in a ladle or small saucepan. ignite and pour over the pudding. Allow the flames to subside before serving.
Notes
Use the longer cooking times for the larger pudding and the shorter cooking times for the smaller pudding.Remember to keep an eye on the water level in the pan and top up as required to ensure the pan does not boil dry.Cooking MethodFor more details on how to steam the puddings plus information on how to cook in a pressure cooker or reheat in the microwave see the body of the post.Variation: If you prefer not to add alcohol to your pudding add orange juice apple juice or cold tea.
Sarah says
Help, I'm cooking my puddings right now and just realised that I didn't double the sugar quantity like my other ingredients. Will they be horrible?
Jacqueline Bellefontaine says
Opps! I think you should get away with it especially if you used sweet wine rather than stout to soak the fruit. Luckily the fruit brings quite a lot of sweetness. So hopefully they will turn out fine. If they are not as sweet as you like you could also serve with slightly sweeter than usual custard, sweetened cream or even brandy or rum butter.
However they turn out I hope you have a fabulous festive season and good on you for being so organised and getting ahead with the prep.
Peta says
Hi Jacqui,
This looks really lovely and I am going to try making one for Christmas. I can't find the instructions for how to steam the pudding without a pressure cooker though - I know you wrote that instructions are in the body of the post, but I can't find them, sorry! Could you please advise?
Jacqueline Bellefontaine says
Hi Peta the instructions for how to cook the puddings is under the heading of Steaming the puddings in the body of the post. there is also a link to a page with more detailed steps on how to cover and steam a pudding ready for steaming if you have not done it before. Timings and instructions are also in the recipe card Step 4. Basically you are steaming the puddings for around 6 hours to begin with. On Chrsitmas day you can either reheat by steaming again or reheat in the microwave. Hope that helps. Enjoy and do pop back and let me know what you think.
Peta says
Thanks so much Jacqui! I'll let you know how it goes 🙂
Christine says
Hello,
This brought back childhood memories for me although I wasn't really a fan of Christmas Pudding I remember that when my grandma made it there was a tradition of putting little silver objects in. Of course back then the sixpences were silver and whoever got it in their slice would have good luck! I think as a child that was the only reason that I agreed to it. I'm wondering now how many kids came close to choking back in the 50's