While every family has it’s own take on traditional Christmas pudding; generally, there’s very little deviation from the much-loved formula of spices, dried fruit, zest, and if you’re lucky, a nip of brandy.
But it would seem that everything we know about Christmas pudding could, in fact, be wrong. The Royal Family this week shared its treasured recipe for traditional Christmas pudding, which includes not one, not even two, but three types of booze, along with something called ‘suet’ (which we had to Google — and now we regret it. Seriously).
“Today is #StirupSunday: traditionally the day when home cooks ‘stir up’ their Christmas pudding mixture,” a Tweet from The Royal Family’s Twitter account reads. “This year, chefs in the Royal kitchens have shared their recipe for a traditional Christmas pudding.”
🥄 Today is #StirupSunday: traditionally the day when home cooks ‘stir up’ their Christmas pudding mixture.
This year, chefs in the Royal kitchens have shared their recipe for a traditional Christmas pudding.
We hope that some of you enjoy making it in your own homes. pic.twitter.com/BNepTPJD6a
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) November 22, 2020
How to Make the Royal Family’s Christmas Pudding
The below recipe makes 2x 1kg puddings.
Ingredients:
- 250g raisins
- 250g currants
- 185g sultanas
- 150g mixed peel
- 250g suet or vegetarian suet
- 250g breadcrumbs
- 90g flour
- 12g mixed spice
- 180g demerara sugar
- 2 whole eggs
- 275ml beer
- 40ml dark rum
- 40ml brandy
Method:
1. Combine all dry ingredients in a medium-sized bowl and stir to combine.
2. Add the eggs and liquid ingredients. Stir to combine again and divide the mixture into two equal parts.
3. Grease your pudding basins and press one half of the mixture into the basin, using the back of a spoon to press the mixture down. Repeat with the other half of the mix.
4. Cover the exposed pudding base with a circle of baking paper.
5. Cover basins with muslin or foil and place puddings into a deep saucepan. Fill with water up to 3/4 of the pudding basic height. Cover the pot lid with foil and steam for six hours, refilling water if necessary.
6. Once cooled, wrap puddings well and keep in a cool, dry and dark place until Christmas.
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In England, Christmas puddings are traditionally doused in (more) booze and set on fire for a spectacular end to the Christmas meal. Should you wish to follow suit, you can do just that, using the exact same recipe the Royals sample every single year.
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