With an ingredients list as long as your arm, not to mention a good dash of pomp and circumstance, we proudly present to you The Ritz‘s Executive Chef’s Christmas pudding recipe. With a three-month maturation period, we’d recommend you either get a head start on next year or give’em as Christmas presents to be enjoyed in 2014. A little delayed gratification never hurt anyone!
John Williams’ The Ritz Christmas Pudding
Serves 10
- 50g oranges, zest and juice
- 35g lemons, zest and juice
- 85g flour
- 35g ground almonds
- 120g breadcrumbs
- 85g brown sugar
- 200g sultanas
- 200g currants
- 200g raisins
- 40g glacé cherries, chopped
- 40g mixed cut peel
- 50g prunes, chopped
- 70g cooking apples, chopped
- 45g carrots, grated
- 14g salt
- 2g mixed spice
- 2g nutmeg
- 10g crystallised ginger
- 2 g cinnamon
- 15ml golden syrup
- 7ml Cognac
- 26ml Guinness
- 23ml bitter beer
- 7ml Madeira
- 7ml sherry
- 10ml rum
- 15ml milk
- 1 egg
- 13g suet
Method:
- Place all the dry ingredients together in a large bowl, ensuring all of the dried fruit is cut into even-sized pieces.
- Mix the chopped cooking apples, grated carrots, orange juice and lemon juice thoroughly with the syrup, cognac, alcohol, milk and eggs.
- Slowly fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, ensuring nothing is crushed.
- Pour the mixture into a clean tub and leave at room temperature for approximately 3 days, or until it begins to ferment.
- When the mixture starts to ferment, put it into a pudding basin lined with greaseproof paper and seal with a lid.
- Store in a fridge for one more day.
- Cook the pudding in a steamer for approximately 1 hour 45 minutes.
- Allow to cool, then store in a cool cupboard for a minimum of three months.
- To serve, steam for 1 hour 45 minutes, flame, and eat accompanied by plenty of brandy butter.
Ready-made ‘The Ritz‘ Christmas Puddings will be sold exclusively by the Christmas Concierge at The Ritz and are available to residents and non-residents alike at £35 per pudding. Each one is individually numbered, tagged and gift-wrapped.