5 hours for large pudding, 1 hour for mini puddings
Note: The recipe will produce enough mixture to fill both a large Cook & Go dish and four mini ones. You can either choose to make up the recipe with or without alcohol, or take out enough mixture to fill the small ones and then add the Brandy to the rest.
Ingredients
300g mixed raisins, currants and sultanas
100g dried cranberries
100g dates or prunes, chopped
1 x large cooking apple, peeled and grated
1 x orange, juice and zest
1 x lemon, zest only
50g mixed peel
100g glace cherries
200g mixed, chopped nuts, walnuts, almonds, Brazil nuts etc
200g dark brown soft sugar
3 tbsp blackstrap molasses
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground mixed spice
50g blanched almonds, toasted and chopped
50g white breadcrumbs
150g self-raising flour
100g vegan butter alternative
100g vegan suet
2 tbsp ground chia seeds
80ml Brandy or orange juice for the alcohol-free puddings
70ml soya milk
Icing sugar, cranberries and orange juice for the decoration.
Preparation
Place all the ingredients into a large bowl and mix well together.
Grease the Pyrex Cook & Go round dishes and place a piece of grease proof paper at the bottom of the dish to prevent sticking. Fill 2/3 full with the mixture.
Cover the dish with a double layer of grease proof paper which is pleated in the middle and then cover with a layer of foil, which is also pleated in the middle.
Tie a piece of string around the rim of the dish and a 2nd piece from underneath of the dish to the top, creating a handle.
In a large saucepan, place a heatproof dish at the bottom (upside down), and put the Cook & Go dish on top.
Pour boiling water into the saucepan until it reaches half way.
Cover the saucepan with a lid and once boiled, reduce to a simmer for 5 hours (or 1 hour for the Cook & Go mini dishes). Remember to check the water frequently and top up as needed.
The pudding is ready once a skewer, inserted in the middle comes out clean.
Remove pudding from the dish by placing a lid on top and turning the dish upside down.
Finish with icing sugar and some cranberries briefly cooked in orange juice.
1 large pudding and 4 mini puddings
5 hours for large pudding, 1 hour for mini puddings
