Homemade Christmas Pudding - worth it?

[CloudyVanilla]

So Christmas pudding is usually somewhat neglected in our house but DP really loves it and I did have one a couple of years ago that I really loved.

I fancied having a go at making one this year but the ingredients tot up to the same if not more than a fancy one.

I want fruity, fragrant, squidgy and indulgent. Is it worth doing a homemade one or are the store bought ones just as good in reality?

Only made one twice, and the Tast the Difference or similar you buy were better. Lidl's deluxe is OK but not great, more like the last one I made.

Fortnums is excellent.

I always make nigellas ultimate one. I love Christmas pudding, and prefer it but free which this is. I also love the tradition of making it

I also make the Nigella ultimate one and it gets v good feedback. I don’t like it, so can’t really help!

They are very nice when homemade . I have made two and kept one for the following year which is even better .

Another vote for Nigella. I don’t usually like Christmas pudding but it is really delicious and worth the effort I think.
Also eggnog cream to go with it...
(Basically cream, icing sugar and advocaat mixed together)

DH makes Christmas pudding and they are gorgeous though even better the following year. He uses a very old recipe as it's in oz and has all sorts of dried fruit we love dates as they make it to sticky and miss off glace cherries and put dried cherries or cranberries in as they are less sweet.

I adore proper Christmas Pudding. Have never had a store-bought one I like.

It’s always worth making them in my mind.

I really like the shop bought Waitrose whole orange one. But I also really like my grandmother's homemade one. Despite being a keen baker, I haven't made my own yet as I like the Waitrose one.

You make something you don’t eat? I’m confused!

I prefer homemade as I can add more nuts and I find shop bought ones too sweet.
When I have had shop bought ones, I do think they benefit from being steamed rather than microwaved.

I always make the one from Nigella’s Christmas book and it’s divine. I don’t like bought ones at all. It’s also a nice tradition to make it on Stir Up Sunday

Thank you :D

I think I would like to make one for the fun of it! It's certainly not economical 😅

I want to put figs and honey in it instead of treacle and prunes, is that mad?

I have never put honey or prines in mine, but I tend to find that you can vary the fruit as long as it adds up to the right total weight. I always add extra nuts and that doesn't seem to matter.

Definitely make your own - easy and SO much nicer. I always make Eliza Acton’s recipe (find it in Xanthe Clay’s review of best Christmas puds online) - delicious.

Mine are always worth it! Less dense and heavy than shop ones - it’s a trad old GH recipe - and smells utterly gorgeous when you’re mixing up. Shall be making 2 big ones soon. Dh would eat it all through January given half a chance.

Mine uses the zest of oranges and lemons and the best gadget I ever bought was a little zester for £7 which makes that bit so much easier. The rest of the making is a doddle, just mix everything up really well - and don’t forget to make a wish!

I'm not usually a Nigel Slater fan but this pudding is the best Christmas pudding I've ever tasted. The figs and the ginger really give it something extra.

www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/christmaspudding_71054

I always used to make Nigella's "non conformist" pudding from Feast and stuck she'd loads of Antiguan dark rum in it. The consensus amongst the family was that it wasn't as heavy as traditional pudding.

Steaming it for a few hours on the day helps with the level of squidginess.

@Tiggles

I have never put honey or prines in mine, but I tend to find that you can vary the fruit as long as it adds up to the right total weight. I always add extra nuts and that doesn't seem to matter.

I agree - I've always tweaked the fruit content of mine. Plus double the spices.

I make Nigella's ultimate pudding every year. It's a very simple recipe but is always well received. I make two and give one away. The fruits have been soaking for 2 weeks now so I may make the pudding this weekend. Definitely try it at least one year..I think the effort is worth it.

Shop bought just don't compare.

I always do Delia's.

Delicious every time.

Homemade is so much nicer. Ime most people who say they don't like Xmas pudding base this on the shop bought ones, which are often claggy and nasty. Homemade ones are completely different! I've been making the Delia one for 20 years, although I'm thinking about trying a mash-up of a few different recipes on this thread now 🤔

Forgot we also put mackeson's stout in as well which is a lovely sweet milk stout which adds a delicious undertone.