Last minute pudding
Strictly speaking, I’m not really down with the tradition of Christmas pudding. Christmas in Australia is more of a Pavlova or Panacotta type of affair. Ice cream and summer berries always fits better with our climate.
Pudding and custard
My Mothers side of the family came from English stock and my Fathers side arrived unceremoniously on the First Fleet (convicts shh!) One side of the family were far more acclimatized shall we say. At the English Grandmother’s Christmas there was always pudding and in the Australian camp….well there was Pavlova or just plain strawberries and ice cream.
Making the pudding
Now just because I think it is a bit unsuitable for Christmas celebrations in Australia , it doesn’t mean that I have given it up altogether. Sadly my Grandmother ‘s on both sides are gone, even my parents are no longer here to breath the traditions of their past. I however have a big sister who loves Christmas pudding and I am very happy to make it for her because I really love it too.. yes it’s wrong, yes its’s just too hot, but it’s for her……..and I help her eat so she’s not alone. Really thoughtful, don’t you think?
bake like this
This is a last minute pudding made in part with some sour dough crumbs. I got mine from Celia @ fig jam and lime cordial along with the cut leaf decorations, but any nice sour dough crumbs will do. It really is very easy but you will still need 2 days if not a full 24 hours to make it, but I promise it is very easy.
Pudding cut
Last Minute Christmas pudding
Ingredients
- 200 ml orange juice just under a cup- freshly squeezed or ready made
- 80 ml brandy
- 250 gm mixed fruit (currants sultanas, raisins)
- 3 whole figs glace, 50 gm chopped
- 100 gm brown sugar ½ cup
- 50 gm plain flour ? cup
- 25 gm cocoa dark
- 25 gm almond meal
- 100 gm sour dough crumbs 1 cup
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon allspice
- ½ teaspoon Sea salt flakes
- 100 gm butter very cold
Instructions
- Line a 20 cm x 8 cm x 8 cm ( 8-10 in x 3 in x 3-4 in) loaf tin with baking paper.
- Set the oven to 150 C / 300 F
- Take the crusts off the bread and pulse in the food processor until crumbs form 100 gm toatal. Add the flour, cocoa, almond meal and spices and the chilled chopped butter and pulse till bread crumb like. Do not make a dough!.
- Pour into a bowl and toss through the fruit.
- Mix the orange juice,eggs and brandy . Mixing well to break up the eggs. Mix this into the fruit mixture cover and leave overnight or preferably up to 48 hours.
- ** Without a food processor. Mix the fruit and dry ingredients together. Beat the eggs, brandy and orange juice and add to the dry mix . Grate the cold butter and mix together with a fork till combined.
- Pour the mixture into the loaf tin and cover with paper then two lots of foil.
- Put into a baking dish big enough to hold the loaf tin and fill to half way up with warm water. Put into a preheated 150 C ( 300 F). Leave untouched for 4 hours.
- Use straight away or cool down and use when required
Notes
My mother always makes the Christmas pudding for our shared Christmas lunch but we also have pavlova and trifle. The pudding always seems so much better the day after when it’s cold.
The texture of it looks gorgeous! And you’ve reminded me to use my long rectangular tin which I haven’t used umm…ever? 😛
What a good sister you are indeed Tania! She should certainly feel privileged to share this with you 🙂
I really do like how you made this in the loaf pan, so much easier for serving X
Great dessert!
You are the most selfless person to not only make this for your sister but to help her eat it too. 🙂
It’s SO pretty, Tania! I wish I was half as talented as you are.
I’m definitely more of an ice cream and berries girl than Christmas pudding girl – but do like that this can be tucked away as a last minute option! I like the alternative shape a lot too 🙂
Thanks so much for the parcel; it arrived this afternoon and I was so thrilled. I love the look of this pudding and great that it doesn’t take too long to put together xx
Baked for 4 hours? wow…I am intrigued to give this a try as I have ALL the ingredients! It looks so rich, moist and festive!
It’s very lovely of you to make this for her. 🙂 Christmas pudding was never part of my Christmas, but a dear Aussie friend introduced me to one that is buttery and delicious and now I love it. I serve it cold with cream and it is lovely, even in summer. 🙂
What a good sister you are sacrificing your stomach space like that! Looks lovely and I I like the idea of a log rather than the traditional shape. So rebellious of you Tania!
I don’t think I’ve ever made a pudding like this! It looks quite festive though.
I caused an uproar last year by ditching the pudding when I was hosting Christmas…. It’s back with a vengeance this year! I do love pudding though – it’s the only dessert I can drown in custard without people looking at me as if I’m a glutton.
How kind to help your sister eat the pudding. 😉