Stir Up Sunday was traditionally the day the whole family got involved to make the Christmas pudding or cake so that the flavours had plenty of time to develop for the big day.
According to tradition, every member of the family gave the mixture a good stir and made a secret wish! If you’re little helpers are keen to get involved then we’ve found some tips here on damage limitation!
There are plenty of great bakeries in Skipton and the surrounding area where you’ll be able to buy your cake but if you fancy a whirl in the kitchen making a traditional Christmas pudding with your little ones this recipe looks a relatively easy one to follow:
Ingredients
225g/8oz golden caster sugar
225g/8oz vegetarian suet
340g/12oz sultanas
340g/12oz raisins
225g/8oz currants
120g/4oz chopped candied peel
120g/4oz plain flour
120g/4oz fresh white breadcrumbs
60g/2oz flaked white almonds
Zest of one lemon
5 Eggs beaten
1 level teaspoon of ground cinnamon
1 level teaspoon of mixed spice
1 level teaspoon of freshly grated nutmeg
Pinch of salt
150ml/5fl oz of brandy or rum
Method
* Mix together all the dry ingredients
* Stir in the eggs and brandy and mix through well
* Turn the mix into 4x1 pint, or 2x 2 pint lightly greased pudding basins
* Put a circle of baking parchment and foil over the top of each lid and tie securely with string
* Make a string handle from one side of the basin to the other so its easy to pick out of the pan after cooking
* Put the basins in a large steamer of boiling water and cover with a lid.
* Boil for 5-6 hours, topping up the boiling water as necessary.
If you don’t have a steamer, put the basins on inverted saucers in a large pan. Put in boiling water to come a third of the way up the sides of the pudding bowls. Cover and steam as before.
* Cool
* Change the baking parchment and foil covers for fresh ones and tie up as before. Store in a cool cupboard until Christmas day.
To serve, steam for two hours, and serve with brandy butter, rum sauce, cream or custard.
A coin was always traditionally added to the mix supposedly to bring wealth to whoever found it. If you don’t have an old silver sixpence hanging around, a pound wrapped in greaseproof paper will do. We know we’re in Yorkshire and that’s a fair hike in inflation but a bigger coin has the added bonus of reducing the risk of anyone choking at the table!
