Old-fashioned Christmas pudding

I like to use chopped dried apricots and/or craisins in the fruit mix — they provide a terrific tang. Great served with brandy sauce or custard.

Ingredients

225 g	Butter
1 ½ cups	Milk
3 cups	Breadcrumbs, soft
¾ cup	Dark cane sugar
1 ½ cups	High grade flour
1 pinch	Salt
750 g	Dried fruit
1 Tbsp	Treacle (Main)
1 tsp	Mixed spice
1 tsp	Vanilla essence
2 Tbsp	Brandy (Main)
1 tsp	Baking soda, dissolved in a little warm milk

Directions

1. Place the chopped butter in a large saucepan. Add the milk and simmer, until the butter melts. Pour onto the breadcrumbs and sugar in a bowl. Mix well. Cool.
2. Sift in the flour and salt and add all the other ingredients. Spoon into a greased 5-cup pudding basin. Cover the top tightly with foil and tie to secure or cover with a fitting lid. Place the bowl in a steamer. Cover and steam over boiling water for three hours.
3. Wrap in foil when cool, then refrigerate. Reheat in a steamer for about 45 minutes or in the microwave for about 5 minutes.

See more of Jan's festive recipes

• Gluten-free festive fruit cake
• White chocolate and macadamia nut panforte
• Five-minute fruit cake