Traditional Christmas Pudding

Traditional Christmas Pudding

  • DifficultyCapable cooks
  • Prep0:40
  • Cook8:30
  • Serves 8
Shezarella
by Shezarella Last updated on 11/17/2023
Seeking an old-fashioned Christmas dessert that's bound to impress? This is a delicious traditional Christmas pudding that'll remind you of Christmases past. Rich, fruity and spiked with brandy, serve with a side of custard for the perfect finish to a Christmas lunch or dinner. - Shezarella
Cook Mode
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

  • 250 g butter chopped
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 4 egg
  • 750 g mixed fruit
  • 1/2 cup pitted prune chopped
  • 3/4 cup dates chopped
  • 1 cup brandy
  • 1 1/2 cup plain flour
  • 1 tsp mixed spice
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • 1/2 cup slivered almonds
  • 1 cup fresh breadcrumbs
  • 1 cup icing sugar *to serve

Method

  • Step 1
    Beat butter and sugar until light and creamy.
  • Step 2
    Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each.
  • Step 3
    Add fruit, brandy, sifted dry ingredients, almonds and breadcrumbs. Mix well.
    Traditional Christmas Pudding
  • Step 4
    Spoon mixture into a greased 8-cup capacity pudding basin. Cover basin with baking paper, secure tightly with string. Cover with foil and basin lid.
  • Step 5
    Place pudding in a large pan with enough boiling water to come halfway up the side of the basin. Cover pan, simmer for 6 hours making sure water level remains constant by adding more boiling water as necessary.
  • Step 6
    Remove pudding from water, and allow to cool. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
  • Step 7
    On day of serving, re-boil pudding as above for 2½ hours. Turn out onto a serving platter and dust with icing sugar.

Equipment

  • 1 pudding basin
Recipe Notes

What do you serve with Christmas pudding?

We recommend serving this best-ever Christmas pudding with custard, brandy-spiked cream, brandy butter, or vanilla ice-cream.

What can you use instead of brandy in a Christmas pudding?

If you don't have (or don't like!) brandy, you can use whisky, rum, fruit red wine, or, for a non-alcoholic Christmas cake, you can use apple, orange or grape juice.

For more Christmas dessert recipe ideas, Australia's Best Recipes Christmas recipes collection.

Cooked this recipe?

Upload your photo for a chance to win.
Learn more

Got a great recipe to share?

Send us your best recipes to be featured on our site. Learn more

Recipe Reviews (19)

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

Photo Credit: BestRecipesTeam

Have a recipe to share?

Send us your best recipes to be featured on our site. Learn more

Discover More…