How to make Christmas Pudding

TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS PUDDING RECIPE
Christmas pudding is the dessert traditionally served on Christmas day. It is a steamed pudding, heavy with dried fruit and nuts and has its origins in England. A Christmas pudding is sometimes known as plum pudding, though this can also refer to other kinds of boiled pudding involving a lot of dried fruit.

It was common practice to include small silver coins in the pudding mixture, which could be kept by the person whose serving included them. The usual choice was a sixpence. The coin was believed to bring wealth in the coming year. This practice has since fallen away for reasons of safety and liability.

There are many great pudding recipes, but my favourite traditional Christmas pudding is the one below - it's simple and delicious. Merry Christmas - hope you enjoy!

Christmas Pudding Ingredients
- 250g butter
- 250g dark brown sugar
- 4 eggs
- 250g raisins
- 250g sultanas
- 250g currants
- 125g mixed peel
- 2 tablespoons brandy (or as much as you like)
- 250g plain flour
- 1teaspoon baking powder
- 50g mixed spice
- 1teaspoon cinnamon
- Pudding cloth (a 62 cm square of unbleached and boiled calico is perfect)

Step 1
Soak all the fruit in brandy for 24 hours.
Step 2
Cream the butter and sugar.
Step 3
Add the eggs one at a time, beating well as you go.
Step 4
Sift the baking powder, spices and flour together. Add the sifted flour and fruit alternately to the butter, sugar and eggs.
Step 5
Put the mixture in the pudding cloth and tie tightly.
Step 6
Place into rapidly boiling water and boil for 4 hours. (Put a dinner plate in the bottom of boiler and keep topping up water level with boiling water.)
Step 7
Take out and change cloth for a clean and dry one.
Step 8
Hang the pudding in a cool place until Christmas morning then boil the pudding for a further 2 hours.

Christmas Pudding Tip:
- The more time you have to leave it to hang, the better. More than three days is great, but if you are in a hurry, overnight will do. For a big family Christmas pudding, double the quantities of ingredients.

A great Christmas drink to accompany your Christmas Pudding is Eggnog. Try this alcholic eggnog recipe, a festive take on this popular Christmas drink.

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