Expert guide to the secret to the perfect Christmas pudding recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why did my Christmas pudding go mouldy after? ›

The pudding should be stored in a cool, dark and dry place. If the pudding is in a warm and humid environment (such as a steamy kitchen) then there is a risk that some mould will develop on the pudding. If you live in a warm or humid climate then it may be better to store the pudding in the fridge or to freeze it.

Suet and butter are both solid-when-cold fats that add moisture and flavour to dessert items. So if you didn't want to use suet in your Christmas pudding, an equal weight of butter, initially, seemed to me like a potential substitute.

For a long time it's been common practice to include silver Christmas pudding coins, charms or tokens into Christmas pudding. Finding a Christmas coin in your slice of pudding is believed to bring good luck and especially wealth in the coming year.

Most Christmas puddings are made with suet (shredded beef fat) and this tends to take longer to melt than butter, so the pudding needs a long cooking time to make sure that the fat has melted and combined properly with the other ingredients.

Some Christmas puddings, made with dried fruit in the traditional way, are fine to be eaten as much as two years after they were made. "Bear in mind if the pudding is alcohol-free, of course, it will last a good while with the sugar content, but it will not last as long without alcohol to preserve it," stresses Juliet.

After the first 5 hours of steaming the puddings may not look that dark but do not worry as the colour deepens on the second steaming.

Superstitions say that Christmas pudding must be prepared with 13 ingredients, which are said to represent Jesus and his twelve disciples. It is also said that the mixture should be stirred in turn from east to west, by each family member, to honour the disciples' journey.

Use a mixture of flour and breadcrumbs, not just flour. Though in older times the choice was more to do with economy, breadcrumbs give the pudding a much lighter texture. And again, use just enough flour to hold the mixture gently together.

Adding silver coins into plum pudding is a fun Christmas tradition. The notion being that whoever finds the coin will have good luck. The tradition may date as far back as early as the 1300s when several small items like dried peas and chicken wishbones were added to the pudding mixture.

To test if the pudding's cooked, pierce the foil and paper with a skewer and wiggle it to make the hole bigger, or it will be wiped clean of any mixture when you pull it out.

Does Christmas pudding get better with age? ›

In fact, they just get better with age. Many of my customers like to buy their pudding a year in advance and let it continue to mature. If you love an aged pudding, you might want to consider a pudding from our vintage range. These puddings have been allowed to mature for an additional year.

Ideally we would suggest that when the pudding is made it is steamed for 8 hours (the combined time of the first and second steamings) as the steaming is important for the flavour of the pudding. The pudding can then be microwaved to reheat it on Christmas Day.

The FSA advises against eating any food containing mould, emphasising that this is especially key for vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with mould allergies or a weakened immune system.

Steam the pudding for 2 hours. Remove the mold from the stockpot, uncover the mold and let cool for 15 minutes. Unmold the pudding by inverting it onto a plate.

Make sure the cake is completely cool. I cool for three days to ensure there is not hint of warmth which may encourage mould growth. Store cakes wrapped well in a box or tin in a cool place.

Here's a general guideline: Room Temperature: It's safe to store Christmas pudding at room temperature for a few days, but it's not recommended for long-term storage. Refrigerator: In the fridge, Christmas pudding can last for up to a week while maintaining its quality.