Makes: 1 Christmas Steamed Pudding Oven: Over low heat
Preparation Time: 5 hours Baking Time: 4 hours
Ingredients
125 | g | Butter |
125 | ml | Brown sugar ( ½ cup ) |
5 | ml | Bicarbonate of soda ( 1 tsp ) |
125 | ml | Boiling water ( ½ cup ) |
30 | ml | Apricot jam ( 2 tbsp ) |
45 | ml | Brandy ( 4 tbsp ) |
3 | Large eggs, beaten | |
240 | g | Cake flour ( 2 x 250 ml / 2 cups ) |
5 | ml | Salt ( 1 tsp ) |
5 | ml | Cinnamon ( 1 tsp ) |
3 | ml | Nutmeg ( ½ tsp ) |
3 | ml | Ginger ( ½ tsp ) |
3 | ml | Cloves ( ½ tsp ) |
10 | g | Anchor Instant Yeast ( 1 packet ) |
250 | ml | Dried breadcrumbs ( ½ cup ) |
125 | ml | Dried Fruit Mix ( ½ cup ) |
60 | ml | Mixed Peel ( ¼ cup ) |
60 | ml | Dates, chopped ( ¼ cup ), optional |
60 | ml | Walnuts/Almonds/Pecan nuts, chopped ( ¼ cup ) (optional) |
Syrup
Equipment
Method
- Beat butter and brown sugar together until light and creamy.
- Dissolve the bicarbonate of soda in the boiling water. Add the apricot jam and brandy to the creamed mixture.
Mix well until blended. - Mix the cake flour, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves together. Add the Anchor Instant Yeast and mix.
- Sieve the flour mixture and the beaten egg alternatively into the creamed mixture, folding the flour in gently, until
mixed through. - Add the breadcrumbs, dried fruit cake mix, mixed peel, dates and nuts and fold in lightly, until well blended.
- Cover with a greased plastic and allow to rest in a warm place for 20 minutes. Knock the batter down and pour
the mixture into a greased oven proof 2 litre dish. Cover the dish with a round piece of greased baking paper and
fold over the top and down the sides. Place a long piece of string around and tie tightly to secure the paper so
that no water can enter the pudding, whilst steaming. - Allow to rise in a warm place about 20 – 25 minutes.
- Warm a large pot of water and allow to simmer.
- Cut a large square piece of foil, place the dish in the middle and bring the 4 corners up and press them together
to form a handle. - Place the pudding into the pot of simmering water. Place the lid on top and steam for 4 hours. Top up with water
after 2 hours, making sure the pot does not run out of water. - Remove pudding from the pot and stand on a cooling rack until cooled. Open and gently insert a knife, and
loosen around the sides, allowing a little air to enter and turn out onto a wet serving plate. Once turned out,
centre the pudding on the plate and dab the plate, with a paper towel to remove excess water. - Decorate with a holly leaf and serve warm or cold with brandy sauce,
custard or ice cream.