Granny Martin's Christmas puddings

Granny Martin's Christmas puddings

Get a head start on Christmas with James Martin's make-ahead pudding

Difficulty and servings

Moderately easy

Makes 2 puddings, each serving 6

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 45 mins

Cook time

Cook 6 hrs

plus overnight soaking

Method

  1. Soak the sultanas, currants, figs, mixed peel, cherries and the apricots in the brandy in a bowl overnight if possible or for at least a few hrs (if you don't have time for this, place the fruit in a microwaveable bowl with the brandy and give it a quick blast in the microwave to plump up). In a larger bowl, mix the ginger and syrup, apples, orange juice and zest, eggs, suet, crumbs, sugar and flour. Using your fingers or a wooden spoon, mix in the soaked fruit and mixed spice.
  2. Butter 2 x 1.5-litre pudding basins and divide the mixture between them, filling almost to the rim. Smooth the tops and cover with 2 circles of greaseproof paper. Cover each pudding with a sheet of foil with a folded pleat down the centre, to allow the pudding to expand, and secure everything by tying it tightly with some string. Stand the puddings in a deep, large pan (or 2 if that's easier) on trivets or upturned saucers and pour boiling water around so it comes about a third of the way up. Cover the pan and steam the puddings for 5 hrs, topping up with more boiling water when necessary.
  3. Let the puddings cool down before removing the foil and greaseproof paper, then cover with cling film over the top and store in a cool, dry place if you aren't using them straight away. This is the time you can drizzle them with more booze in the run-up to Christmas if you have time. To reheat, steam the pudding for 1 hr more before turning out and flaming with hot brandy.

764 kcalories, protein 10g, carbohydrate 130g, fat 23 g, saturated fat 10g, fibre 5g, sugar 101g, salt 0.81 g

Recipe from Good Food magazine, November 2009.

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Latest comments and suggestions

Results 21-29

  • Binder photo Michelle

    12 September 2011

    Michelle rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Made last year will definitely make again son that said he didn't like Christmas pudding wouldn't stop eating it

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  • Binder photo Michelle

    12 September 2011

    Michelle commented on this recipe

    Made last year will definitely make again son that said he didn't like Christmas pudding wouldn't stop eating it

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  • Binder photo jinjerine

    23 October 2011

    jinjerine rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    I forgot to come back and rate this recipe, but made again last year and will be making this year. Really lovely light puddings. Not like the shop bought heavy rich ones. Very easy to make too. A must for Christmas!

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  • Binder photo Rainbow

    01 December 2011

    Rainbow commented on this recipe

    This will be the third year of making this pudding. It's delicious. My family always want seconds!!

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  • Binder photo wixie

    03 October 2012

    wixie commented on this recipe

    i am going to make these soon, do i cover just inside the basin with the greasproof paper or over the top?? with the foil, surley the foil wont expand if the paper over the top

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  • Binder photo Elaine Barlow

    31 October 2012

    Elaine Barlow commented on this recipe

    You put the greaseproof paper inside the basin on top of the mixture. Excellent recipe, this is my 3rd year, my family can't get enough of them.

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  • Binder photo karen

    29 December 2012

    karen commented on this recipe

    Highly recommended! The first time i have made christmas puddings because i dont like them In fact I kept asking my daughter if it tasted like xmas pud as i loved the taste of this recipe as did my 81 year old Dad who usually hates it. I will probably reduce the quantities next year as made one large and two regular puds (too much for us). Thanks James I am sure this will become another traditional christmas recipe along with my Nan's sherry trifle and Nonna'ss ravioli in brodo

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  • Binder photo karen

    29 December 2012

    karen commented on this recipe

    forgot to rate it earlier definitely 5 stars

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  • Binder photo poptart

    05 January 2013

    poptart commented on this recipe

    I've never made Christmas pudding before but I definitely will again. They were delicious and everyone very impressed. Thank you James you made me look like a domestic goddess!!!

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Difficulty and servings

Moderately easy

Makes 2 puddings, each serving 6

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 45 mins

Cook time

Cook 6 hrs

plus overnight soaking

Ingredients

  • 350g sultanas
  • 350g currants
  • 140g dried figs , chopped
  • 100g mixed peel
  • 85g glacé cherries , halved
  • 100g dried apricots , chopped
  • 150ml brandy
  • 100g stem ginger , chopped
  • plus 3 tbsp of the syrup
  • 2 apples , grated
  • juice and zest 2 oranges
  • 6 large eggs , beaten
  • 250g shredded suet
  • 250g fresh white breadcrumbs
  • 350g light muscovado sugar
  • 175g self-raising flour
  • 1 tsp mixed spice
  • butter , for greasing
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764 kcalories, protein 10g, carbohydrate 130g, fat 23 g, saturated fat 10g, fibre 5g, sugar 101g, salt 0.81 g

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