To my knowledge, the dense, rich plum pudding is only eaten in Great Britain at Christmas time. I do not know why but this pudding is not widely known on the North American continent.
It is easy to make but a medium-to-big pudding takes up to 6 hours to cook.
First: all dry ingredients are mixed together: flour, dried fruit, sliced almonds, sugar, a little salt, bread crumbs, spices.
Second: shredded suet (the fat of beef) is mixed thoroughly into the mixture; with eggs, stoned, halved plums, the grated rind and juice of an orange and a lemon, and a peeled, cored and diced apple;
and brandy until the mixture has enough coherence to stick together but not so much that it is gurgling drunk.
Sixpence coins were mixed in, when I was a child, to allow the finder a very special, secret wish.
Placed in a well-buttered pudding tin with a tight lid, the tin sits in a water bath which is brought to a boil and allowed to simmer for 5 to 6 hours.
Flamed with additional brandy when cooked and eased onto a platter, it is served traditionally with butter whipped with brandy. Cream or ice cream often substitute today.
A rich dessert for Christmas
whose satisfactions I try to recreate at Christmas- time in an afterlife of my wandering in lands with no history of plum puddings.
You convey the richness of this pudding very tellingly. Thank you. Next Christmas I may copy your instructions and give it a go. This year it is more Panettone and minced pies (bought…..alas)
Thanks for your comment. I’ll send you the precise recipe!
Thanks, Sarah. I don’t know but in my travels I’ve noticed that I rarely care for the deserts of other lands and that this is often the case with foreigners and American deserts. Perhaps this is because of childhood associations. Curious…
I understand what you say: food is culturally specific for many reasons. And this pudding would not have suited the Puritans etc.!
I did hear that the Founding Fathers relished syllabub which originated in England.
A delicious dessert but a little complicated to prepare, for me!
Best wishes and much happiness💖
And I wish you the same, Luisa!
🙏💞🙏
I love it so at least it has come to Australia.