Name: Cherry Christmas pudding
Cook time: 240 min
Total time: 240 min
Ingredients: 1 cup raisins; 1 cup currants or diced prunes; 1 cup sultanas; 1/2 cup almonds, chopped; 3 tablespoon mixed spice; 3 tablespoon treacle; 3/4 cup rice bran or peanut oil; 2 large grated apples; 4 tablespoon brandy; 31/2 cup pitted cherries - fresh or if canned, drained; 4 beaten eggs; 200 gram grated dark chocolate, minimum 64% cocoa; 1/4 cup flour; 3/4 cup soft brown sugar; 1/4 cup cocoa powder; 1/4 teaspoon salt

Cherry Christmas pudding

What makes this one of the most sumptuous Christmas puddings is the use of fresh cherries, which come into season in December.

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Makes 2

Cook

Marinate

Ingredients

1 cup raisins

1 cup currants or diced prunes

1 cup sultanas

1/2 cup almonds, chopped

3 tablespoon mixed spice

3 tablespoon treacle

3/4 cup rice bran or peanut oil

2 large grated apples

4 tablespoon brandy

31/2 cup pitted cherries – fresh or if canned, drained

4 beaten eggs

200 gram grated dark chocolate, minimum 64% cocoa

1/4 cup flour

3/4 cup soft brown sugar

1/4 cup cocoa powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

Method

1.Mix together the first 10 ingredients and leave for at least 4 hours, or overnight if possible. Add the eggs to the soaked fruit and mix well.

2.Mix all dry ingredients together, including chocolate, and with light hands, mix into fruit. Place the mixture into two greased 1-litre pudding basins.

3.Cover with greaseproof paper, then take a large piece of tinfoil, fold and pleat in the middle before tightly covering the pudding basins. Tie edges with string to secure the tinfoil tightly.

4.For each pudding: In the bottom of a large saucepan place a thick piece of cardboard or a heat-proof saucer and lower the pudding on top. Fill each saucepan with enough boiling water to come halfway up the sides of the basins, then cover with a tightly fitting lid.

5.Bring to boil, then lower the heat and simmer gently for 4 hours. Be sure to check the water every hour and add extra boiling water to maintain the water level until the pudding is cooked.

6.Serve with brandy sauce, vanilla ice cream or slightly sweetened creme fraiche.

This recipe is for two puddings. Should you only wish to make one, halve all the ingredients and continue as per recipe.
Note

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