Classic Christmas pudding

Name: Classic Christmas pudding
Prep time: 30 min
Total time: 4 h 30 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 125 g dried mixed fruit; 150 g currants; 150 g raisins; 150 g sultanas; 20 g stem ginger in syrup, drained and finely chopped; 1 orange, zest and juice; 1 lime, zest and juice; 5 tbsp calvados or brandy; 115 g butter, softened, plus extra for greasing; 115 g dark muscavado sugar; 2 tsp ground mixed spice; 1 tsp ground cinnamon; 1 tsp ground ginger; 115 g self-raising flour; 100 g fresh breadcrumbs; 2 British Blacktail Medium Free Range Eggs, beaten; 2 tbsp milk

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Vegetarian

Serves6
CourseDessert
Prepare30 mins
Cook4 hrs
Total time4 hrs 30 mins
Plusovernight soaking and 2 hours reheating

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Ingredients

125g dried mixed fruit
150g currants
150g raisins
150g sultanas
20g stem ginger in syrup, drained and finely chopped
1 orange, zest and juice
1 lime, zest and juice
5 tbsp calvados or brandy
115g butter, softened, plus extra for greasing
115g dark muscavado sugar
2 tsp ground mixed spice
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
115g self-raising flour
100g fresh breadcrumbs
2 British Blacktail Medium Free Range Eggs, beaten
2 tbsp milk

Method

Mix together all the dried fruit, stem ginger, citrus zests and juice, and the Calvados or brandy in a large bowl. Cover and leave overnight.
Grease a 1.2 litre pudding basin with butter and place a small circle of baking parchment in the base. Beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, then mix in the spices, flour and breadcrumbs. Add the eggs and milk, then the fruit mixture and any soaking liquid.
Spoon the mixture into the basin to 1cm below the rim. Cover with a double layer of greased baking parchment followed by a large piece of foil. Tie loosely around the rim with string so that there is room for the pudding to expand. Put the basin in a steamer, or a saucepan with an up-turned heatproof saucer on the base. Add boiling water to come two-thirds of the way up the sides of the basin. Cover the pan with a tight-fitting lid and simmer for 4 hours. Keep the water bubbling throughout and top up with extra boiling water as necessary.
Remove from the pan, cool, then wrap in fresh baking parchment and foil. Store for up to 3 months in a cool, dry place or in the refrigerator. When needed, reheat by steaming the pudding in the same way as above, for about 2 hours, until piping hot.

Cook’s tip

Make it gluten free
Use Doves Farm Gluten Free Self-Raising Flour and breadcrumbs from a gluten-free loaf and add 2 tbsp extra milk or water at the end of step 2 to loosen the mixture.