- HubPages»
- Food and Cooking
How To Make A Christmas Pudding
Christmas Pudding
It's that time of year again, when our thoughts turn to Christmas. What to buy, who to invite over, and more importantly what to cook! We all know that this year our money situation isn't as good as other years, so it is a great time to buy the ingredients and learn to cook the main festive food ourselves. Now I don't know about you, but I always cheat and buy the good old traditional Christmas Pudding from the local supermarket. In fact I can't remember the last time I actually made one for myself! My mother always made our Christmas Pudding's. She used to shut herself away in the kitchen and magically bake this amazing huge cake! How she did it, I have no idea, but it was always so yummy, I could have ate it all year round! So this year I have decided to make one myself. I have tried a few recipe's but this one really, well, does take the cake! So I thought you might like to try it yourself. Hopefully you won't make such a mess of the kitchen like I do! Good luck and get cooking!
Traditional Christmas Pudding
Ingredients
115g or 4 oz =1 cup of plain flour
Pinch of salt
5ml or 1tsp ground mixed spice
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
225g or 8oz = 1 cup of grated hard white fat
1 dessert apple, grated
225g or 8 oz = 2 cups of fresh white breadcrumbs
350g or 12 oz = 1 7/8 cups of soft brown sugar
50g or 2 oz flaked almonds
225g or 8 oz = 1 1/2 cups of seedless raisins
225g or 8 oz = 1 1/2 cups currants
225g or 8 oz = 1 1/2 cups sultanas
115g or 4 oz ready to eat dried apricots
115g or 4 oz = 3/4 cup chopped mixed peel
finely grated rind and juice of 1 lemon
30ml or 2 tbsp black treacle
3 eggs
300 ml or 1/2 pint = 1 1/4 cups of milk
30 ml or 2 tbsp rum
This serves 8 people.
-
Now For The Cooking!
First of all make sure that you have got all your bowls and sieve's ready first, as if you are anything like me I always forget to lay out the cooking trays etc before I start! Okay, here we go, lock the door, turn of the phone and get cooking!
First of all sieve the flour, salt and spices into a large bowl. Then add the fat, apple and other dry ingredients, including the grated lemon rind.
Now heat the treacle until warm and runny and pour it into the dry ingredients. Get a separate bowl, and mix together the eggs, milk rum and lemon juice. Just don't forget the rum! It's one of the most important ingredients! Ha!
Now stir the liquid into the dry mixture.
After mixing it all up nicely, spoon all of the mixture into two 1.2 litre or 2 pint basins. You can measure the size of the bowls first to be sure of the right size, by pouring five cups of water in it. If it comes up to the rim then you know you have the right size. Easy! even for me!
When you have added the mixture to the bowls, over wrap the puddings with pieces of greaseproof paper, pleated to allow for expansion. Then tie them with string.
Steam the puddings in a steamer or saucepan of boiling water. Each pudding needs ten hour's cooking and three hours reheating. I know this sounds like a long time, but believe me it is worth it!
Remember to keep the water level topped up to keep the pans from boiling dry.
So there we have it! Obviously you will need to do this on a day when you don't go out, but I am sure you will find it totally worth the while. If I could manage it, then I am sure you cooks out there will find it easy as blinking! Trust me when I say, I am not a very good cook, but I am pleased with my result, hence the boasting! Ha Ha
Have a great Christmas!
If You Like English Food Then Why Not Try These?
- Buy Fun Kitchen Accessories Online. Pretty Cups, Fun...
I Love Christmas, Birthdays or any other party time. I remember when I was a small child, my mother always let me help with the cooking and washing up. The small fancy fairy cakes with chocolate or strawberry... - Easy Cooking: Mushroom And Parsley Soup
Mushroom soup always conjures up lovely Autumn days, red leaves on the trees, and squirrels running around madly storing their nuts in the ground. Bare with me! I live in the countryside so that every time I... - A Full English Breakfast: Bacon and Eggs, A British ...
There is nothing better than getting up in the morning and smelling that gorgeous aroma of bacon. it steals up the stairs and meanders around the room before, whoosh! straight up your nose! So what is it about... - Baked Bean And Cheese Loaf
I remember when I was growing up, we didn't have a lot of money, so my mother always seemed to be coming up with ingenius ideas for making the simplest of foods into great meals. i have tried over the years...
Comments
Yummy, now who can I find to make me one..LOL
I think I ought to vote this up as beautiful, not just because of your writing, but because of your yummy pudding recipe. I will still be going to the supermarket for mine though.
Thanks Nell. You make me feel hungry.
I am going to try that this year! I have never had a Christmas pudding.. thank you for posting this! Merry Christmas to you as well!
Oooooooo yummy, I swear I could smell that baking .
I appreciated the way you gave us three types of measuring details too.
Thank you, now I know what a Christmas pudding is. It looks wonderful.
Hey Nell, that sounds like a great recipe. I'm looking forward to see how well I can do. I don't tend to make a mess of my kitchen and usually cook all the meals for the Holidays. So, I might give your recipe a try over the Holidays. Thank you for sharing and Keep up the great work. :)
I have not made a Christmas pudding for years but this year I have decided to make my own again. Just lucky I spotted your recipe, so will give it a try and let you know the result. Thanks so much Nell Rose.
Well I am really going to make an effort to make my own Christmas Pudding this year, so thanks for the recipe, I will definitely try it out.
My, it sounds delicious. I thought I might try to make one. Then I read the contents. I'm not sure I can find all of that stuff. "Grated hard white fat?" What the heck is that? Sultana? I don't remember seeing those in our grocery store. I may have to send to England for the ingredients. Well, we'll see what happens. Thanks.
That does look good, if I wrote myself a letter I might remember, ah I better jot it down and stick it to the fridge now with the dozens of others! Congrats on that 100 girl...although I sometimes feel like reaching up there and biting one of those 0's off. ha ha J/k...kinda...lol
Wow Nell, I will never be able to do this amazing pudding. Looks so sophisticated, like a work of art. If your cooking is as good as your writing then I'm sure it will turn to be fantastic. Good job! And oh...Can I pay you a visit at Christmas? Maybe you can set aside some pudding for me:).
- Author
Hi, ehern, thanks for reading it, I will make you one and send it in the post! ha ha
Hi, christopher, that's cheating! hee hee I know what you mean though, I usually do that myself! thanks as always, nell
Hi, Cheyenne, we always have Christmas pud over here, I do like some makes but others are a bit stodgy and I can't get out of my seat for about an hour after eating it! lol thanks so much
Hi, debbie, I don't like the metric scale even though over here they try and make us use it! not me, I stick to the old inches miles and pints! ha ha thanks again nell
Hi, sheila, I always thought that everyone ate Christmas pud! maybe not in America? thanks again nell
Hi, Cagsil, thank you for reading it, it is worth it, even if it makes a mess! it's part of the fun of Christmas! lol thanks nell
Hi, ellacor, I do try and do some cooking out of the ordinary sometimes, but not a lot! but when the idea takes hold, I have to give it a go!
Hi, acaetnna, I hope it turns out great! mine sort of did...ha ha thanks again
Hi, David, you can use suet instead, it is easier than fat, and I prefer it, sultanas are usually near the currants in the shop, but maybe you can't find the currants either! hee hee that's okay, just throw everything in it, it will turn out great! in the old days our grandma's used to put shillings or sixpences in the pudding for a treat! can you imagine that these days? someone would choke and then they would scream 'health and safety!' ha ha
Hi, Polly, ha ha you can have one of my noughts! I don't mind, I am sure it will go back down like it always does, and good luck with the pudding! thanks as always for commenting you always make me smile, cheers nell
Hi, cameciob, I am not that good at cooking, too impatient! ha ha but sometimes I just grit my teeth and go for it! you are welcome any time, bring the bottle of wine and we will have a party! lol cheers nell
Wow...even I can make this..lol...Thank you.
I am sure I will love it and perhaps my son would too!!
Thank you!!
Thanks for the recipe, Nell. My mother use to make our Christmas puddings too, but I’ve never made one myself. Maybe this year I’ll try making the pudding instead of buying it!
Thanks for posting the recipe it sounds fantastic. Maybe this year will be the year first to tackle making one myself.
Thank you for a great recipe.
Sounds like a delicious Christmas pudding, Nell!
- Author
Hi,Melinda, I am sure that you are a better cook than me! lol I tend to burn everything, but this did come out alright! thanks nell
- Author
Hi, Alicia, my mum was a good cook too, I am not even half as good, but I do try! lol thanks so much nell
That looks so yum! Ive bookmarked to give it a go!
- Author
Hi, crmcdonald, I think it is nice to try and make your own occasionally, I think, like me, now my son is older I tend to cook only occasionally, but now he is nagging me to do some home cooked food! Ah well, here we go again! lol thanks nell
- Author
Hi, Hello Hello, thanks for reading it, I hope it is useful, thanks nell
Hi, CMHypno, I managed one so far, now I am going to try to do another! thanks nell
- Author
Hi, LeonJane, thanks so much for reading it, I hope it turns out okay, and you don't burn the first attempt, like me! lol cheers nell
Yummy - and you NOT the cook!
Hmmmm. You know I've always wanted to try a Christmas pudding - and then I can sing that song while I eat - you know "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" - thanks for a super recipe. This looks great. And I love currants. Perfect!
Rated up and bookmarked!
Hi Nell, will certainly try to make this pudding...though I wonder how good it will taste if I cook it...your recipe looks really yummy..I love cooking though so there's no harm in trying...wish me luck.
I love pudding very much. I thought Christmas will complete with the existence of pudding. I really love your recipes. I believe your pudding is really delicious. Would you give me a little?...... Yummy. I'll vote to cure my hungry.
Love and peace
Prasetio
- Author
Hi, Audrey, I am a useless cook sometimes! ha ha but I do try! thanks as always nell
Hi, TheListLady, thanks for reading it, and for the bookmark I hope it turns out great! thanks nell
Hi, prasetio, I will certainly send you some down the line! ha ha sorry if I made you hungry! thanks so much as always nell
- Author
Hi, Marie, thanks for reading it, I am sure your cooking is much better than mine! sometimes it turns out great, another it just goes all burnt and black! lol thanks so much nell
I've always wanted to make a Christmas pudding. Seems so festive and Dickensian! I have a great bread pudding recipe for the holidays, but yours I will have to try. Thumbs up!
Nell, I have only seen this in the movies. I have not seen it here in the US. It looks like alot of work. LOL
I don't know what black treacle or sultanas are.
Also I did a hub on conversion charts, because I saw that other hubbers were asking people how to do it with some recipes. I think I may try this. Boy, won't my family be suprised!
Oh here is that link.
Oh, I voted up and all that. Will also bookmark.
I think you may have to come and show me how to make this one. Are you free this Christmas? LOL
My English mother never made Christmas pudding always wanted to try it. Christmas is such a special time for family traditions.
gr82bme; I believe Sultanas are a white raisin.
my hub on family cooking traditions can be found at
Mmmmm! I can almost smell the cinnamon, delish! Now I can try whipping up one for my folks this Christmas instead of buying them. Thanks Nell! :)
ha ha ha.. I was going to try it today..lol..then I re read the instructions and found out ten hours of cooking and three hours of reheating..
I thought it was one hour of cooking Nell..we shall see..maybe I can still try it after all..
- Author
Hi, Steph, thanks for stopping by, good luck with the Christmas Pudding! take care nell
- Author
Hi, Tina, it can be a bit confusing trying to find stuff that is used in cooking in one country, and not found in another one, I did try and add all the different measuring equivalences, and I hope it works out okay, and I would love to come over for Christmas! ha ha where's my passport? but seriously, one of these days I will be getting a new passport so you never know when I will end up sitting on your doorstep! lol cheers nell
- Author
Hi, bddonovan, thanks for taking time to read it, I totally agree, Christmas is a special time, but mainly just to get together with families, I love that part, thanks again nell
- Author
Hi, ashley, thanks for commenting, I hope yours turns out better than my first attempt! ha ha cheers nell
Hi, Melinda, sorry about that, I do believe that there is probably another way of cooking it, this was just the original traditional one, but never mind! thanks again nell
Nell, I would love to have you.
I'm gonna print this out and try it!!
- Author
Thanks Tina, I would love to come over for a visit, you never know! lol cheers nell
Hi, carolina, you can probably cook it better than me! ha ha thanks as always nell
Came back to copy and print your recipe Nell. May I share it with my sister? She's planning to whip one up for her in-laws.
- Author
Hi, ashley, of course, go ahead, I hope it turns out great! my first attempt was a bit, well, slightly off centre, if you know what I mean! ha ha but good luck, thanks nell
Nell I love to cook baking I suck at anything that has to be measured out and you can't just throw a bit of this and that...Well if you ever were to sample a cookie I have tried to master home made you would understand. I do know what treacle is and I would assume alittle of this goes along way. I do know it has a bit of a strong bitter flavor to it. I think I will try to make this and see if I can. I am always up for a good cooking challenge.
- Author
Hi, Wendy, thanks again for coming over, it was a bit daunting to say the least! ha ha but I had a go, good luck with the pudding! cheers nell
p.s. I am on the case, so to speak! your mum asked about pubs, I am writing it now!
Congrats Nell Rose, you beautiful flower! You have the elusive "100". God bless Dear Nell! Great hub Dear Nell!
I may try that.Do you know whether you can bake such puddings in the oven?I had a book once that told you but I can't find it/thanks for a good hub
- Author
Hi, Micky, thanks again for stopping by, I love seeing you, hope your aches are better now! lol cheers nell
Hi, kathryn I tried to look it up on the computer, and if you put in the google search, can I put a xmas pudding in the oven, a couple came up that might be helpful, I was going to put the link in here, but it was too long! lol good luck, and thanks nell
Yummy yummy I see why you buy the already prepared this pudding takes a lot of TLC. I've always wanted to make one, but I'll wait til next year. Definitely voted up, marked useful, awesome, bookmarked and shared. Peace Ms. Nell.
I have never seen Christmas pudding to buy here in the states. So... I bookmarked your recipe. :) Thanks for this cool, old-fashioned tradition, Nell Rose. Happy Christmas!
- Author
Hi, pmccray, it does take a lot of baking, I am sure there are other easier versions but I thought I would show the traditional one, I don't think I will make another one just yet though! lol thanks so much nell
Hi, shygirl2, Happy Christmas to you too, and thanks so much, I didn't realise that people in America didn't eat this, I thought we all did! ha ha cheers nell
This looks so good! I was raised on this stuff but never made my own but now I just might get brave try it. Thank you! :)
- Author
Hi, thanks for reading it, it took me a while but I had a go! don't think I will do it again though! ha ha but then i am not much of a cook, but I always try what I write about, thanks nell
Nell: Sounds like this pudding might be wortha try this holiday! I am also celebrating reaching my 500th Hub with a special holiday greeting to my followers! May this Festive Season bring you Warmth, Friendship and Happiness, no matter when or how or with whom you celebrate! To add to your holiday merriment, I offer all of my hubs devoted to this time of year: All About Santa; The Polar Bear; Kris Kringle, the College Years; An Alphabetical Christmas; All About the North Pole; Enjoy Reindeer; and, of course, Little-Known Santas No. 1 through No. 17! Enjoy!
- Author
Hi, rick, Happy Christmas! 500th Hub? wow! Congrats! hope you have a great time! cheers nell
I never knew what was in Christmas pudding! Great recipe but it looks like a lot of work ;) Americans are lazy remember? Timely hub of course and great for those brave enough to try it! Pictures are really cool too. Voted up and interesting. A cultural lesson for us.
- Author
Hi, tillsontitan, this is the long version! lol you can of course make an easier one, and buy it from a supermarket already made too, thanks for reading, cheers nell
Sounds Yummy! Thanks Nell!
- Author
Hi, I just read your paypal update, I think we all make mistakes like that, I never read the small print either! lol on anything! thanks for reading
Yummy, Nell! We haven't had this since my Dad passed away. It was always part of our Christmas tradition because of him! This looks and sounds delicious. Thanks for sharing a real English Pudding recipe with us!
- Author
Hi suzette, thanks so much for reading, I love my Xmas Pud! lol!
Nell, if you had a ratings gadget for this one I would give it 5 stars. A friend saw the recipe, made it and offered me a portion and it was excellent!
Oh my, that is one beautiful cake! I have never had it but I am sure that it is all wonderful. Thanks for sharing.
- Author
Hi beth, thank you! Now thats what I like to hear, tell her to send me some! haha! thanks so much, nell
- Author
Thanks teaches, its really scrummy! just dollop a whole tin of thick cream on the top! lol! thanks as always, nell
66