Christmas puddings

[Binkermum29]

Eek!
I've just made 2 X 2 pint Christmas puddings. Steamed for 6 hours. Then I found the sugar that was meant to be in them.........
What should I do? They were meant as gifts, so I don't really want to present them with excuses or sweetening instructions.
All advice gratefully received.

[JamNan]

Lordy Binker, that's a tough one.
I think first of all you should taste it.
How much sugar from the recipe is missing? The fruit might be enough to sweeten it?

Did you put rum/beer/in it? I am thinking alcohol will help to preserve it.

All I can think of as a rescue remedy, is to boil up some brown sugar and water and rum to make a syrup, make some holes with a skewer and pour it into the pudding. Leave it to soak for a day or two and steam it again for an hour or so.

PS I'll ask me Mam as she is Queen of Puddings in our family.

[HuevosRancheros]

I hope someone more knowledgable and optimistic will be along soon.

I don't really think that they can be salvaged as puddings.

You could make Christmas pudding ice cream out of them, adding more sugar on top of the pudding pieces to compensate? At least that way you're not throwing away some very expensive ingredients :(

[HuevosRancheros]

X post with jamnan
Ignore me, listen to her :)

[JamNan]

Me, I luffs Christmas pudding ice cream.

[Binkermum29]

Jamnan - I bet your Mam will have the answer - in fact I know she will. There is brandy AND Guinness
( other stouts are available ) in the recipe - which is amazing - and I don't deserve to have been given it. I'll try your sugar syrup idea if Mam doesn't come up with anything. Thanks Huevos Rancheros ( yum ) for the ice cream idea but I have nil freezer space and really want to give these puds as festive gifts.

[Binkermum29]

Sorry, didn't answer your ? There was meant to be one pound ( in old money ) of soft brown sugar in the mix.

[JamNan]

No answer from Mam so I'll update later.

[JamNan]

Right,
Mam says make a syrup by boiling water with the sugar until sugar is dissolved. Pour it into the pudding let it soak in and steam it again for about an hour.

Fingers crossed for you.
Bless her she's 85.

[Binkermum29]

She is clearly a star!
Please send her my very best wishes and grateful thanks, and the same to you as well. I only joined Mumsnet to get an answer to this pesky question and you and Mam have done me proud!

[SeaRabbit]

The recipe I use has no added sugar anyway and it's delicious so your pudding may be OK as it is. It does have a lot of fruit in which provides the sweetness. Here is the approximate recipe so you can compare:

cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php?topic=20977.0

[Binkermum29]

And you so much for the advice and the recipe. I will try both!

[JamNan]

The puds might be sweet enough already and you won't have to faff with boiling the extra sugar and more steaming.

Let us know how it goes.

[Binkermum29]

JamNan - mission accomplished! And the proof of the pudding..........
I made quite a strong sugar syrup, created some holes in the puds to spoon it through and then re-steamed. Totally passed the taste teste. Thanks again!

[JamNan]

Hooray