Christmas Plum Pudding Recipe

Name: Christmas Plum Pudding Recipe
Prep time: 30 min
Yield: 8 serving(s)
Ingredients: 1 lb. mixed dried fruit (such as raisins, currants, cranberries, chopped figs, chopped prunes, or apricots); 1 c. peeled and diced Granny Smith apple (from 1 apple); 1/4 c. brandy; 3 tbsp. fresh orange juice; 1/2 c. (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus more for pudding mold; 2/3 c. all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled; 1/2 c. panko breadcrumbs; 1 tsp. baking powder; 1/2 tsp. kosher salt; 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon; 1/4 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg; 1/4 tsp. ground cloves; 3/4 c. packed light brown sugar; 1 tbsp. molasses; 1 tsp. orange zest; 2 large eggs; 3 tbsp. chopped slivered almonds; Brandy Crème Anglaise, for serving; 1/2 c. whole milk; 1/2 c. heavy cream; 3 large egg yolks; 1/4 c. sugar; 1 to 2 teaspoons brandy

Make this classic holiday dessert for a true Christmas treat!

By Paula SuttonPublished: Oct 19, 2023

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a slice of christmas plum pudding on a plate

Becky Luigart-Stayner

Yields:

8 serving(s)

Prep Time:

30 mins

Total Time:

7 days 4 hrs 30 mins

If you've never had one, a classic British plum pudding is like the very best fruitcake you've never had: boozy, sweet, rich, and drizzled in a brandy cream sauce that you'll want to lick straight off the plate.

Though you will want to start a least a week ahead to make it, this recipe is pretty straightforward and foolproof. Do yourself (and your dinner guests) a favor and give it a try!

This recipe is courtesy Paula Sutton of Hill House Vintage.

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Ingredients

For the fruit:

1 lb. mixed dried fruit (such as raisins, currants, cranberries, chopped figs, chopped prunes, or apricots)
1 cup peeled and diced Granny Smith apple (from 1 apple)
1/4 cup brandy
3 Tbsp. fresh orange juice

For the cake:

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus more for pudding mold
2/3 cup all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 Tbsp. molasses
1 tsp. orange zest
2 large eggs
3 Tbsp. chopped slivered almonds
Brandy Crème Anglaise, for serving

For Brandy Crème Anglaise

1/2 cup whole milk
1/2 cup heavy cream
3 large egg yolks
1/4 cup sugar
1 to 2 teaspoons brandy

Directions

1. Step 1Soak the fruit: Combine dried fruit, apple, brandy, and orange juice in a bowl. Cover and let sit, stirring occasionally, at least 2 hours and up to overnight.
2. Step 2Make the cake: Generously butter a metal 1.6-liter pudding mold with a lid. Whisk together flour, panko, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves in a bowl. Beat butter with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes. Add sugar, molasses, and orange zest, and beat until fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes. Beat in eggs, beating until incorporated after each addition, scraping bowl as needed. Slowly beat in flour mixture. Stir in soaked fruit (and any liquid) and almonds. Transfer to prepared mold; attach lid.
3. Step 3Place the ring of a mason jar lid in a pot that is large enough to accommodate the pudding mold. Place the mold on the lid and add enough boiling water to come halfway up the sides of the mold. Cover the pot and simmer, adding more boiling water as necessary, until the pudding is dark brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Cool completely in the pan. Remove from pan, wrap in plastic wrap, and let sit for at least 1 week and up to 1 month.
4. Step 4Make the Brandy Crème Anglaise: Bring milk and heavy cream to a simmer in a small saucepan. Whisk together egg yolks and sugar in a bowl.
5. Step 5Slowly drizzle 1/4 cup warm milk mixture into the egg mixture. Once yolks are warm, whisk in remaining milk mixture. Return everything to the saucepan. Cook, over medium heat, whisking, until mixture reaches 180°F on an instant-read thermometer, 4 to 5 minutes.
6. Step 6Strain into a bowl and stir in 1 to 2 tsp. brandy. Cool completely. (Makes 1 1/3 cups.)
7. Step 7Serve Plum Pudding sliced with Brandy Crème Anglaise alongside.