A Recipe for Christmas Pudding

Christmas pudding is a steamed dessert filled with dried fruits and nuts customarily served during the Christmas season. It has a distinct black appearance due to the dark sugars and longer cooking time.

To make a classic two 2-pound Christmas pudding, you need the following ingredients: 1/2 pound unsalted butter and about 2 teaspoons additional butter, 1 1/3 cups brown or dark sugar, 3 large eggs (beaten), 3 tablespoons dark corn syrup, 2/3 cup flour (self-rising), 1 pinch salt, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg grated fresh, 1/2 teaspoon apple pie spice, juice of 1 lemon, 1 finely grated orange rind , 1 finely grated lemon rind , 4 cups fresh bread crumbs, 1 1/3 cups golden raisins, 1 1/3 cups seedless raisins, 1 1/3 cups currants, 1/3 cup of mixed citrus (peel and chopped), and 1/2 cup brandy to add taste.

Here are easy directions. First, beat 1/2 pound of butter until soft, then add sugar and beat the mixture until it becomes fluffy. Afterwards, slowly beat the eggs and the syrup. Sift the flour with spices and salt, then fold into the butter mixture along with the lemon juice, bread crumbs, grated rinds, fruits, and brandy. Spoon the pudding mixture into two moulds and cover it with a waxed paper and a piece of foil, and refrigerate it overnight. Afterwards, place the moulds in a saucepan and steam for 5 hours. Then, let the pudding cool completely and cover it again with a pudding cloth and fasten with a string. Before serving, steam the pudding for about 3 hours and add a holly stem and brandy.