Gordon Elliott Christmas Pudding Recipes

AUNT CAROLINE'S CHRISTMAS PUDDING

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix together the suet and 1 cup brown sugar until smooth. Stir in the carrot, potato, egg, salt and vanilla. Mix in enough buttermilk to make a loose batter. Sift 1/2 cup of flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg into a separate bowl. Stir into the carrot mixture just until blended. Fold in the raisins, currants, cherries and mixed fruit.
• Grease the inside of two wide mouth pint jars. Divide the mixture evenly between the two jars filling about 3/4 full. Cover with lids, but only screw the rings on enough so they don't fall off. The cake will need to expand while cooking. Place a rack or trivet in the bottom of a large pot to keep the jars off of the bottom. Fill the pot with enough water to come halfway up the sides of the jars. Cover the pot with a lid and bring the water to a boil.
• Steam the pudding for 3 hours. Carefully remove the jars and adjust the lids and screw on the rings. Allow to cool to room temperature. The lids should snap down to seal as they cool. Allow the pudding to age for a few weeks before serving.
• Before serving, make the sauce: In a small saucepan, stir together 1/2 cup brown sugar, salt and 1 tablespoon of flour until there are no lumps. Stir in the water and bring to a boil. Simmer over medium heat until thickened, about 5 minutes.
• Serve the pudding warm, or slice and fry in butter before spooning the sauce over the top.

THE ULTIMATE ENGLISH CHRISTMAS PUDDING

Steps:

• Lightly butter a 1.4-litre (21/2-pint) pudding basin.
• Cut a small square of foil and press into the base of the basin.
• Measure the sultanas, raisins, apricots and apple into a bowl with the orange juice.
• Add the measured brandy or rum and leave to marinate for about one hour.
• Put the measured butter, sugar and grated orange rind into a large bowl and cream together with a wooden spoon or a hand-held electric whisk until light and fluffy, gradually beat in the eggs, adding a little flour if the mixture starts to curdle.
• Sift together the flour and mixed spice, then fold into the creamed mixture with the breadcrumbs and the nuts.
• Add the dried fruits, apple and liquid and stir well.
• Spoon into the prepared pudding basin, pressing the mixture down, and level the top with the back of a spoon.
• Cover the pudding with a layer of greaseproof paper and foil, both pleated across the middle to allow for expansion.
• Tie securely with string and trim off excess paper and foil with scissors***.
• TO STEAM, put the pudding in the top of a steamer filled with simmering water, cover with a lid and steam for about eight hours, topping up the water as necessary.
• TO BOIL, put a metal jam-jar lid into the base of a large pan to act as a trivet. Put the pudding on to this and pour in enough boiling water to come one-third of the way up the bowl. Cover with a lid, bring the water back to the boil, then simmer for about seven hours, until the pudding is a glorious deep brown colour, topping up the water as necessary.
• Remove the pudding from the steamer or pan and cool completely.
• Make holes in the pudding with a fine skewer and pour in a little more brandy or rum to feed.
• Discard the paper and foil and replace with fresh. Store in a cool, dry place.
• On Christmas Day, steam or boil the pudding for about an hour to reheat. Turn the pudding on to a serving plate.
• To flame, warm 3-4 tablespoons brandy or rum in a small pan, pour it over the hot pudding and set light to it.
• Serve with Rum Sauce or Brandy Butter.