Stir up Sunday ( cmas pudding ) queations

[absolutelyflawed]

Do I need to freeze the puddings until Christmas or just put them in a cupboard?
Can I substitute suet with anything else?

[whataterriblefuss]

There is vegetarian suet that you can use, but I'm not sure you can replace the suet with butter/oil.

Don't freeze them!! They will keep for months in a cool, dry place. Make sure that after you have steamed them, you replace the covering (foil/baking paper), and then all you have to do on the day is reheat, either in a microwave, or steaming in a pan again.

Delia recipe explains it well - I always use that one.

[GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER]

Just cover them with fresh greaseproof paper and a foil lid, and keep somewhere cool. They will be fine.
I am making mine this weekend. Used to wait until dds were both home so everyone could have a stir and make a wish, but that can hardly ever happen any more.
I love the smell when mixing up! Spices, orange and lemon zest, and maybe the brown ale too - it's so Christmassy.

[absolutelyflawed]

Ah thank you. I'm making them in plastic basins - will they keep ok in those for 6 weeks?

[TKRedLemonade]

I don't have my mothers recipe to hand but I know she never used suet. No one in our family ever has. I have not yet been given the family recipe :)

[Tiggles]

They'll be fine. I keep a pudding 'on the side' for a year or more.
Don't know about the suet - I know my mum uses the vegetarian suet and that works ok.

[Northernnachos]

I've used a recipe from the bbc good food website this year that didn't contain suet at all. I think it's called something like their classic christmas pudding if you have a Google.

And as others have said, no need to freeze.