My favourite is Keith Floyd's christmas pudding it is amazing my family all flock over to ours when they know we've made on for christmas.
it's a traditional one straight forward and really delivers

RIP Mr Floyd your xmas pud and cake recipes have and will live on in lola's house!

I microwave it, although I can't for the life of me remember for how long and Nigella doesn't say. Long enough for it to be warm and giving off fumes (this is what ignites) but not so long it explodes in the microwave

thank you will give that one a try.

daft question but i have never set light to a christmas pud- so how do you warm the vodka (have visions of setting the whole kitchen on fire!!)

Nonconformist Christmas pudding
NOTE: THIS SERVES twelve so adjust as necessary.

300g dried figs
175g dried blueberries
225g currants (I use blueberries, cranberries and sultanas, totalling a little more than the blueberries + currants)
150ml coffee liqueur (I use brandy though)
175g unsalted butter
100g breadcrumbs
100g ground almonds
50g cocoa
100g plain flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
150g soft dark brown sugar
2 decent sized eating apples
3 large eggs
1 x 142ml pot sour cream
1 tablespoon vanilla extract (I am heavy handed with this!)
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg ) I am heavy handed with the spices
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon ) particularly the cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom (optional - I've never put it in)
coins or charms

Butter a 2.5l or 3l heatproof plastic pudding basin and lid (I use ceramic though and seal it with foil!)

Chop the figs in a food processor and put into a bowl with the other dried fruit and the liqueur/brandy. Leave to soak overnight.

Put the breadcrumbs, ground almonds, cocoa, flour, baking powder, bicarb and sugar into another bowl and mix.

Peel, core and quarter the apples and bung them in the unwashed figgy food processor. and chop them. Tip them into the dry ingredients with the dried fruit. I tip the brandy from the dried fruit into the food processor and then add the softened butter, eggs, sour cream, vanilla and spices and blitz them together. Pour this into the other bowl, scraping it all off the sides of the processor bowl.

Add your clean coins (soak them in cola overnight!), stir it all together and make a wish

Pour into the prepared bow, cover and steam for 4 hours (in a steamer or in a large saucepan of boiling water with a lid on top. check water levels regularly)

Take the pudding out of the pan carefully and leave to cool and set. Leave to mellow and mature (and I tip a bit more brandy on to feed it a few weeks before Christmas!).

ON Christmas day, put it on to steam for at least 1.5 hours although the longer you steam it, the denser and stickier it gets.

Unmould it (I've never got it out without leaving the very top in the bottom of the bowl!) and stick some holly on top. Warm 125ml vodka and pour over the pud at the table before setting light to it. Vodka burn better than brandy apparently.

I did my crimbo cake last week first time, hope its ok. It smells gorgeous. How much, and how often shall I feed it brandy and when??? (Can I feed myself too!??)

siuodragon thank you

titsalina, what recipe do you use for your mincemeat?

I have made my pud already, we always make it on the weekend of DS's birthday (which was last week) i use a book handed down to me thorugh the family, its by Margurite Patten its uber old but the recipes are sound, i do add a 'special' ingredient though. (top secret) i will now put a tbsp of Rum over it every 2 weeks untill xmas when DP will set it on fire.

I have also done my Mincemeat and will do my Chrimbo Cake in a couple of weeks time.

I usually make mine in November some time.

I can post the recipe later tonight if no one else does (children and puppy permitting!)

can someone post the nigella recipe please?

i need to make a christmas pud this year as my dd loves it but has citrus allergy and all shop ones have citrus in. i need ot find a recipe which either doesnt have citrus fruits in, or leave them out of a recipe and hope it comes out ok.

how long in advance do you make christmas puds?

I'm sold, I think I'll give that one a whirl. I have all of the ingredients to hand too! cheers ladies