Figgy Christmas pudding

Figgy Christmas pudding

A classic that every Christmas table should have. Make ahead and simply steam the puds to reheat on the big day

Difficulty and servings

Easy

Makes a 500ml, 1-litre and 2-litre pudding

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 1 hr

Cook time

Cook 1 hr - 3 hrs

Method

  1. Butter a 500ml, a 1-litre and a 2-litre pudding bowl, then line the base of each with a circle of baking parchment. Butter 3 large sheets of greaseproof paper, lay each on a large sheet of foil butter side up, and fold a pleat in the middle of each.
  2. Roughly chop 250g of the figs and set aside. Put the remaining figs, butter and brandy into a food processor and whizz until smooth-ish, then scrape into your largest mixing bowl. Tip in the chopped figs, mixed vine fruits, grated apple, sugars, breadcrumbs, flour and allspice. Stir everything together, allowing as many helpers to give a stir and adding as many wishes as you like. Divide between the pudding bowls and smooth the surfaces.
  3. Cover the puds with the buttered paper-foil sheets, tie with string and trim. Lower the puds into separate saucepans with upturned saucers or scrunched up bits of foil in the bottom (so the puds don't touch the bottom), then fill each pan with enough boiling water from the kettle to come halfway up the sides of the bowl. Cover with a lid and simmer the small pud for 1-1½ hrs, medium for 2-2½ hrs and large for 3 hrs, topping up the water as needed. Remove and leave to cool. If giving as a gift, put a new piece of parchment on top. Will keep in a cool, dry cupboard for up to a year.
Try

On the big day...

Steam the puds as above to reheat - they'll take half the time they took to cook, to heat through.

Per 500ml pudding

1262 kcalories, protein 13g, carbohydrate 228g, fat 34 g, saturated fat 21g, fibre 12g, sugar 184g, salt 1.57 g

Recipe from Good Food magazine, November 2010.

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Latest comments and suggestions

  • Binder photo paula

    22 November 2010

    paula rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Obviously I haven't eaten it yet but it was very easy to make, there weren't too many ingredients or anything difficult to buy and it smells wonderful. We are looking forward to the big day.

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  • Binder photo Joanna

    03 December 2010

    Joanna commented on this recipe

    Is it correct there are no eggs in this?

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  • Binder photo flora_corbett

    26 December 2010

    flora_corbett rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Delicious Christmas Pudding - one I will most definately be using again and again

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  • Binder photo Flower

    09 January 2011

    Flower rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    This was absolutely delicious, had always made christmas pudding previously but this was really easy to make, and had a really nice fruity mellow flavour. Was surprised about the small amount of brandy and the lack of eggs, but worked perfectly. Will make next year too.

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  • Binder photo veronica

    04 September 2011

    veronica rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    This is one of the best puddings i have ever tried, surprised you dont need any eggs...

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  • Binder photo lise

    01 December 2011

    lise rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    I really loathe Christmas pudding but I made this last year and gave my mum and dad one of the others, and everyone loved it, even me!! It's extremely filling but delicious. Will be making it again this year.

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  • Binder photo Franny

    23 November 2012

    Franny commented on this recipe

    Can it be microwaved to reheat?

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  • Binder photo Amelie

    25 November 2012

    Amelie rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    I made this last year and it was delicious. Just finished making this years. I did reheat it in the microwave with no probs, but can't remember how long it took. The recipe always seems to make less than it should - I filled two 1-litre pudding bowls and one 500ml pudding bowl from this recipe.

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  • Binder photo lise

    28 November 2012

    lise commented on this recipe

    I have made this for two years running and I keep getting the requests for the puddings I don't use!! Everyone loves it, I hate Christmas pudding, instead of brandy I use drambruie as I don't like normal brandy and it gives it a more delicate flavour. We have it with cream but I think I can remember my mum telling me my dad had it with custard!!! A very yummy recipe!

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  • Binder photo Musidora

    23 December 2012

    Musidora commented on this recipe

    Any one any idea how long this needs to be microwaved?

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  • Binder photo cutiegirl

    23 December 2012

    cutiegirl commented on this recipe

    Is there a substitute for the brandy? (non-alcoholic)

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  • Binder photo Lynda

    27 December 2012

    Lynda commented on this recipe

    I calculated the recipe to make a litre pudding. Wow it was fantastic. I was a bit worried because like other people have mentioned it did not fill the bowl. However, Hubby said it was the best i had ever made so i will keep making this one for sure!

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  • Binder photo lizleicester

    28 December 2012

    lizleicester rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Made several of these back in November and wondered how they'd be... They're delicious and made a fantastic contribution to our festive food (with enough to give one to my parents as they go home).

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Difficulty and servings

Easy

Makes a 500ml, 1-litre and 2-litre pudding

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 1 hr

Cook time

Cook 1 hr - 3 hrs

Ingredients

  • 250g pack butter , softened, plus extra for the bowls and paper
  • 750g dried figs
  • 150ml brandy
  • 700g mixed sultanas and raisins (we used Waitrose mixed vine fruits from the Wholesome range)
  • 3 eating apples , peeled, cored and grated
  • 175g light muscovado sugar
  • 175g dark brown soft sugar
  • 200g breadcrumbs
  • 200g self-raising flour
  • 1 tbsp allspice
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Per 500ml pudding

1262 kcalories, protein 13g, carbohydrate 228g, fat 34 g, saturated fat 21g, fibre 12g, sugar 184g, salt 1.57 g

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