A Fruity Christmas Pudding for a Traditional Holiday Treat

Lighter than the traditional pudding, this very fruity Christmas pudding is packed with flavour and soaked in sherry or brandy and orange juice so it’s extra juicy. Served with brandy sauce, it won’t leave you feeling uncomfortably full.

Once you’ve learned how to make fruity Christmas pudding, check out these wonderful holiday cookie recipes.

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Servings	Prep Time	Cook Time
10servings	40minutes	4hours 40 minutes

Servings	Prep Time
10servings	40minutes

Cook Time

4hours 40 minutes

• Course Desserts
• Cuisine Desserts & Drinks

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup currants
• 2/3 cup raisins
• 2/3 cup sultanas
• 1/2 cup dried pitted dates chopped
• 1/2 cup dried apricots chopped
• 2/3 cup dried cranberries or dried cherries
• grated rind and juice of 1 large orange
• 4 tbsp sherry or brandy
• 1/2 cup reduced-salt margarine
• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar firmly packed
• 2 eggs beaten
• 1 dessert apple peeled, cored and diced
• 1 large carrot finely grated
• 1/3 cup Flaked almonds toasted
• 1/2 cup self-raising flour
• 2 tsp mixed spice
• 1 1/4 cups fresh white breadcrumbs
• Brandy Sauce
• 1/3 cup cornstarch
• 4 cups low-fat milk
• 4 tbsp caster (superfine) sugar or to taste
• 4 tbsp brandy

Servings: servings

Units:MetricUS Imperial

Ingredients 2/3 cup currants 2/3 cup raisins 2/3 cup sultanas 1/2 cup dried pitted dates chopped 1/2 cup dried apricots chopped 2/3 cup dried cranberries or dried cherries grated rind and juice of 1 large orange 4 tbsp sherry or brandy 1/2 cup reduced-salt margarine 1/2 cup dark brown sugar firmly packed 2 eggs beaten 1 dessert apple peeled, cored and diced 1 large carrot finely grated 1/3 cup Flaked almonds toasted 1/2 cup self-raising flour 2 tsp mixed spice 1 1/4 cups fresh white breadcrumbs Brandy Sauce 1/3 cup cornstarch 4 cups low-fat milk 4 tbsp caster (superfine) sugar or to taste 4 tbsp brandy Servings: servings Units:MetricUS Imperial

Course Desserts Cuisine Desserts & Drinks

Instructions

1. Place all the dried fruit in a bowl. Add the orange rind and juice and sherry or brandy, and set aside to soak.
2. Grease a 1.5 litre (2 1⁄2 pint) pudding basin and place a disc of parchment paper on the bottom.
3. Beat together the margarine and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, then gradually beat in the eggs. Stir in the apple, carrot, almonds and soaked fruits. Sift over the flour and mixed spice, add the breadcrumbs and mix together.
4. Spoon the mixture into the pudding basin and smooth the top. Lay a doubled sheet of parchment paper and then of aluminum foil on top. Fold to make a pleat in the centre, then smooth down around the basin. Tie securely with string.
5. Bring a steamer or deep pan of water to a boil. Place the basin inside and steam for 3 hours, adding water as needed.
6. Remove the basin and take off the foil and paper. Cover with a dish towel and cool completely. Wrap in fresh parchment paper and foil. Store in a cool, dark place for up to 3 months.
7. On the day of serving, steam the Christmas pudding for a further 1 1⁄2 hours. To make the sauce, blend the cornstarch with 1⁄3 cup milk. Heat the remaining milk until almost boiling, then pour over the cornstarch mixture, stirring. Return to the pan and stir over medium heat until thickened. Simmer for a further 1–2 minutes, still stirring. Add the sugar and brandy and stir to dissolve. Taste for sweetness, adding a little more sugar if necessary. Turn out the fruity Christmas pudding onto a serving plate. Serve with the hot brandy sauce in a gravy boat.

Recipe Notes

Per serving: 458 calories, 10 g protein, 13 g total fat, 2 g saturated fat, 47 mg cholesterol, 72 g total carbohydrate, 58 g sugars, 5 g fibre, 243 mg sodium

The brandy-laced sauce, made with low-fat milk and cornstarch, provides a much healthier alternative to cream or brandy butter.

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