Traditional Plum Pudding Recipe

Indulge in the rich and festive flavors of a traditional plum pudding. This classic British dessert is filled with sweet dried fruits and warm spices. It is traditionally steamed to perfection, creating a moist and flavorful pudding that is perfect for any special occasion. Serve it warm with a drizzle of brandy sauce for a truly decadent treat.

Ingredients

• 1 cup raisins
• 1 cup currants
• 1 cup finely chopped prunes
• 1/2 cup chopped dates
• 1/4 cup candied orange peel
• 1/4 cup candied lemon peel
• 1/2 cup brandy
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
• 1/2 cup suet (or vegetarian suet)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 eggs
• Zest of 1 lemon
• Zest of 1 orange
• 1/2 cup milk

Directions

1. In a large bowl, combine the raisins, currants, prunes, dates, orange peel, lemon peel, and brandy. Stir well to combine and let the mixture sit for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld.
2. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, breadcrumbs, suet, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, and salt. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients.
3. In a small bowl, beat the eggs lightly. Add the beaten eggs, lemon zest, orange zest, and milk to the well in the dry ingredients. Stir everything together until well combined.
4. Add the soaked fruit mixture to the batter and stir until evenly distributed.
5. Grease a 2-quart pudding mold or a heatproof bowl with butter or cooking spray.
6. Pour the batter into the greased mold or bowl and cover with a double layer of aluminum foil. Secure the foil tightly with kitchen twine.
7. Fill a large pot with enough water to reach about halfway up the sides of the mold or bowl. Place a heatproof trivet or upside-down heatproof dish in the bottom of the pot. This will prevent the pudding from touching the direct heat.
8. Place the covered mold or bowl on the trivet or dish in the pot. Cover the pot with a lid and bring the water to a simmer.
9. Steam the pudding for 6 hours, checking occasionally to ensure the water level hasn't dropped too low. Add more water if necessary.
10. Once the pudding is steamed, carefully remove it from the pot and let it cool for 10 minutes. Remove the foil and invert the mold or bowl onto a serving plate to release the pudding.
11. Serve the plum pudding warm with brandy sauce or custard sauce.

Interesting Facts