Quick video: how to cover a pudding for steaming

CHRISTMAS PUDDING RECIPE

20 minutes + up to 2.5 hours steaming, serves 8, A LITTLE EFFORT

white breadcrumbs 200g (preferably made from slightly old bread)

mixed dried fruit 200g

soft light brown sugar 200g

suet (beef or vegetable) 200g

self-raising flour 100g

ground almonds 100g

mixed spice 1 tsp

ground nutmeg 2 tsp

carrot 1, grated

eggs 2, whisked

stout or beer a splash

step 1

Put all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl and stir. Add some beer if it seems too stiff and get every member of the family to give it a stir and make a wish before you put it into a 1-litre pudding basin. Cover the top with a double layer of greaseproof paper and tie round the edge with string. Put on a trivet in a pan with water in the bottom, cover and steam for 1 hour 30 mins to 2 hours (insert a knife; it should come out not too sticky). Cool and store in a cold, dark place until christmas.

step 2

To finish cooking, steam for 30 minutes and serve with custard or brandy butter.

per serving 610 kcals, protein 9.3g, carbohydrate 76.7g, fat 31.6g, saturated fat 11.1g, fibre 2.8g, salt 0.72g.