Serves 16

Ingredients

  • 30g butter, melted
  • 1kg mixed dried fruit
  • 250g pitted prunes, chopped
  • 100g glace cherries, halved
  • 150ml stout
  • 2 tbsp brandy
  • 250g fresh white breadcrumbs
  • 50g blanched almonds, chopped
  • 1 orange, finely grated zest and juice
  • 1 lemon, finely grated zest and juice
  • 225g soft brown sugar
  • 1 large carrot, peeled and finely grated
  • 100g ground almonds
  • 140g plain flour
  • 1 tsp ground mixed spice
  • ½ tsp freshly ground nutmeg
  • 250g beef or vegetable suet, shredded
  • 3 medium eggs, lightly beaten
  • 2 large cooking apples, peeled and coarsely grated
  • 2 tbsp brandy

Method

Preparation time: 50 minutes. Cooking time: 6 hours. 

  1. Generously brush 2 x 1.2 litre pudding basins with the melted butter.
  2. Place all the ingredients together in your largest mixing bowl or saucepan and stir well to combine the ingredients evenly (make sure all the family make a wish during the stirring). Cover tightly with cling-film and leave to stand in a cool place overnight.
  3. Pack the mixture into the pudding basins and cover with a pleated circle of both baking parchment and aluminium foil, securing with string, making a string handle to aid lifting the pudding.
  4. Place in a very large saucepan on a trivet or upturned small saucer and pour boiling water to come halfway up the side of each pudding.
  5. Cover and bring to the boil on the boiling plate, hotplate on boiling setting or induction on high and then transfer to the simmering plate or setting for 30 minutes slow boiling.
  6. Transfer pan to the oven. CAST OVEN: on the floor grid placed on floor of the simmering oven or oven on B1. Cook for 6-8 hours.
  7. Remove puddings from the pans and allow to cool.
  8. Brush the surface of the puddings with 2 tbsp brandy and then cover with fresh parchment and foil coverings and string. Store in a cool, dark and dry place or in the refrigerator until Christmas.

Tips

  • The puddings can also be cooked on the simmering plate, hotplate plate on simmering setting or induction on medium low.
    Keep checking the water and add more boiling water to avoid it boiling dry.

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