Ingredients

• 2 cups - Mixed dried fruit
• 1/2 cup - dried Cranberries
• 3/4 cup - pitted dried dates, chopped
• 1/4 cup - diced dried apricots
• 1 cup - sultanas
• 1/2 cup - red glace cherries, quartered
• 1 cup - firmly packed brown sugar
• 125 gms - butter, chopped
• 1 tsp - bicarbonate of soda
• 2 tsp - finely grated orange rind
• 2 - Eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 cup - plain flour
• 1 cup - self-raising flour
• 2 tsp - mixed spice
• 1/4 cup - brandy
• To Serve:
• Fresh cherries
• Icing sugar mixture
• Custard
• 
  

How to Make Steamed Christmas Pudding

• Grease an 8-cup-capacity metal pudding steamer. Line base with baking paper.
• Place  mixed dried fruit, cranberries, dates, apricots, sultanas, cherries, sugar, butter and 1 cup cold water in a heavy-based saucepan over medium-high heat.
• Stir until butter has melted and sugar is dissolved.
• Bring to the boil. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Stir in bicarbonate of soda. Transfer to a heatproof bowl.
• Set aside for 30 minutes to cool.
• Stir in orange rind, egg, flours, mixed spice and brandy until well combined. Spoon into prepared steamer. Smooth top. Secure lid.
• Place steamer in a large saucepan. Carefully pour in enough boiling water to come halfway up side of steamer. Cover pan. Place over medium heat.
• Boil for 4 hours 30 minutes, topping up boiling water during cooking.
• Remove pan from heat. Carefully lift steamer from water. Stand for 10 minutes.
• Remove lid. Turn out pudding.
• Decorate with cherries and dust with icing sugar.
• Serve warm or cold with custard