This delicious British steamed Christmas pudding of persimmon, almond meal, warm spices and eggs gets soaked in Brandy and lit on fire when served. Don’t forget to put a coin in for next year’s good luck!
Christmas Pudding
Charles Dickens. A Christmas Carol, I believe was the first and only time I had encountered The Christmas Pudding. Now, married to a British Gentleman, I accepted the challenge to – Recreate The Christmas Pudding.
Traditions are like that. Particularly at holiday time, we reach deep into our memories to bring to life the flavors, smells, and tastes we remember as a child. And so, I wanted to see if I might possibly do this for my husband.
Persimmon Pudding
This persimmon, nuts and spice custard, simmers in a bath tucked deep inside the oven, filling the house with aromas that bring a sparkle to the eye, and a lick to the lips.
Although a variety of dried fruits can be used, Persimmon is the fruit I used to steam this pudding. Apples also make a delicious alternative.
The hub lived thirty-years of his life in Hong Kong while serving the queen doing James Bond type work. Shhhhh!
Persimmons are the national fruit of Japan, which are also easily found throughout many parts of Asia and the husband grew to love them while living in Asia.
Steamed Pudding
Here in America, we don’t often find popularity in steamed puddings. It seams we often bake or boil desserts.
A steamed pudding is really just a slow and low technique of cooking a dense, moist cake-like dessert.
The batter is placed in baking dishes, which are then set in a pan half filled with water. The steaming water bath keeps the pudding very moist, while oven baking can often dry out cake-type desserts.
British Christmas Dessert
While a traditional British pudding is just as much savory as it is sweet, I have only had the sweet version served at Christmas time.
I’m sure Dickens and our passion for the storytelling in A Christmas Carol, is what introduced Christmas pudding to us Americans.
The technique used by Mrs. Cratchit, in the story, was a little different from our more elaborate kitchen facilities.
Beautiful earthenware baking dishes that will be set in a water bath in the oven, is what we might use today.
Mrs. Cratchit, who was with little means (as the story goes), probably used a small copper wash pan (for lack of varied cooking utensils), to steam the pudding in while setting it in an iron pot of water and hung it over the fire for hours to steam.
Ingredients Needed
- Persimmon or Apples
- Milk
- Lemon juice
- Baking soda
- Eggs
- Brown sugar
- Whipping cream
- Almond meal
- Butter
- Flour
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Mace
- Confection sugar
- Brandy or Rum
Equipment Needed
- Mixing bowl
- Cutting board
- Chopping knife
- Baking dishes
- Roasting pan
- Measuring cup
- Measuring spoons
- Matches
- A coin
Making A Proper British Christmas Pudding
Fruits, either dried or fresh, or both together, are the first ingredient that gets decided on, when making our Christmas pudding.
Since persimmons or apples are the dominant fruits we have access to in December, where I live, either makes for a delicious steamed pudding.
Figs, hence the name ‘Figgy Pudding,’ or any other dried fruit can be used alone or with a fresh fruit.
Too bad fig season is over by December, otherwise I would have made this pudding with fresh figs from my yard.
The batter is mostly eggs, milk or cream, a variety of warm spices, chopped nuts and the fruit. The smell that fills the house while this pudding is steaming is absolutely Christmas!
This recipe that I have created is fast and easy to assemble. Cooking time is the only timely aspect, but then who doesn’t long for something warm in the oven on a cold winter day!
Ingredients Needed
- Whole milk
- Lemon juice
- Baking soda
- Eggs
- Brown sugar
- Whipping cream
- Almond meal
- Butter
- Flour
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Mace
- Brandy
- Confection sugar
Equipment Needed
- Medium bowl
- Large mixing bowl
- Basting brush
- Baking dish
- Baking pan – to set the dish in for a water bath
- Measuring cup
- Measuring spoons
- Spatula
- Oven
- Matches
Steamed Persimmon British Christmas Pudding
Course: Dessert, HolidaysCuisine: British4
servingsThis delicious British pudding of persimmon, almond meal, warm spices and eggs all steamed in a bath, soaked in Brandy and lit on fire when served.
Ingredients
Persimmons – 4 ripe, peeled and pureed (apples can be used as an alternative
Whole Milk – 1 ½ cup
Lemon juice – from one whole lemon
Baking soda – 1 teaspoon
Eggs – 3
Brown sugar – 1 ½ cups
Whipping Cream – ¼ cup
Almond meal – 1/4 cup crushed almonds
Butter – ½ stick – melted
Flour – 1 ½ cups
Baking powder – 1 teaspoon
Salt – ½ teaspoon
Cinnamon – 1 heaping teaspoon
Nutmeg – 1 teaspoon
Mace – ½ teaspoon
Glazing syrup – 1/8 cup of Brandy and 1 teaspoon powdered sugar
Directions
- Add lemon juice and baking soda to the milk. Stir and let set to foam and thicken while you begin to mix the other ingredients.
- In a large bowl, add eggs, sugar, almonds and cream. Mix.
- Brush a little of the melted butter all around the inside of your baking dish.
- Add the remaining melted butter to the egg batter. Mix.
- Add the dry ingredients. Stir. Pour the foam from the milk to the egg batter and stir. Gently pour the remaining milk into the batter and mix.
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish. This dish will be placed into a larger baking dish, but first pour a little water in the larger baking dish to create a steam bath. Set the bowl of batter into the baking bath and cover with foil to create a loose tent.
- Bake at 325 for about an hour, or until the pudding looks firm and no longer jiggles.
- Glazing syrup
- Mix the brandy and sugar together.
- Place a serving plate on top of the warm pudding and flip it over to invert the warm pudding onto the plate. Drizzle the syrup on top of the pudding and immediately light with a match. The blaze will die down and the pudding is ready to indulge all of you Christmas memories! Don’t forget to put a coin in it!
I believe the table... that place that draws people to gather, is the most powerful symbol of togetherness. All that happens before the table is set, the planning, the gathering, the preparing, are all an intricate part of the dance that create the mood of celebration to share with friends and loved ones.
