Skip to content
SAME DAY/NEXT DAY delivery $15 within Toronto & Montreal. FREE shipping on all orders $125+ in Ontario & Quebec.
SAME DAY/NEXT DAY delivery $15 within Toronto & Montreal. FREE shipping on all orders $125+ in Ontario & Quebec.
Chef Jessica's Nana's Holiday Pudding Recipe

Chef Jessica's Nana's Holiday Pudding Recipe

Chef Jessica of the Cookery family has kindly shared her Nana's holiday pudding recipe with us!

Cookery's Chef Jessica is sharing the wonders of the traditional holiday pudding - with help from Nana Roberts' family recipe. If you've never experienced the wonder of British-style pudding, you are in for a treat!

This is not a creamy bowl of North American style chocolate pudding.  It's a beautifully moist cake, full of fruit, served warm with a decadent dollop of sweet, boozy butter sauce!

This medieval dessert has a quirky and fascinating history, much like Britain herself! Surviving centuries to make it to our family, so we can share it with yours!  It was born of medieval times, survived accusations of paganism & idolatry, puritanical yule bans, and finally experienced a revival by a German-born King who loved the holidays.

Holiday Pudding is a recipe that truly encompasses the meaning of the holidays, long-lived traditions, decadence, and family. 

Thank you to Chef Jessica for sharing her holiday tradition with us 

Nana Roberts' Holiday Pudding Recipe 

Makes 4x 1.75 L puddings using Mason Cash pudding bowls 
After the first steaming, puddings can be cooled completely and wrapped well in plastic wrap and frozen. Puddings can be steamed for their second steaming from frozen. 

Ingredients:

  • 2 lb (908 grams) seedless raisins 
  • 2 lb (908 grams) currants
  • 1 lb (454 grams) beef suet- can substitute with the same amount of grated frozen shortening (not lard or butter) for a vegetarian version. 
  • 4 1/2 cups flour
  • 2 tbsp nutmeg
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tbsp salt
  • 1 1/4 cups sugar
  • 4 cups fine fresh bread crumbs
  • 4 cups red wine

Method:

  1. Cut a circle of wax paper to fit on top of each pudding bowl.
  2. Butter pudding bowls and butter one side of each wax paper circle
  3. Combine all ingredients except wine in a very large mixing  bowl.
  4. Add the wine and stir to combine.
  5. Place batter into well-buttered pudding bowls leaving 1" space at top of bowl. 
  6. Place buttered wax paper on top of the puddings, buttered side down, and press down.
  7. Cover top of each bowl with foil
  8. Tie tightly with cooking twine to seal well.
  9. To steam, place each pudding into their own pot with lid and pour in enough water to come up the side of the bowl by 1 inch.
  10. Cover pot with lid.
  11. Turn burners on to medium heat and bring water to a boil.
  12. Reduce heat to a simmer and steam puddings for 6 hours, periodically checking that the water in the pot hasn't evaporated. Add more water if necessary.
  13. After first steaming, remove carefully from pot and allow to cool.
  14. Remove from bowl, wrap well and freeze until ready to eat
  15. If making ahead, puddings can be made and refrigerated up to a week before eating. Otherwise, freeze. 
  16. To steam before eating, place pudding back into a buttered pudding bowl and cover again with wax paper and foil.
  17. Steam, in the same manner as above, for 2 hours.
  18. Turn out pudding onto a serving platter and enjoy hot with hard sauce. 

"Hard Sauce" From Laura Secord 1966

Makes 1 cup. 
Chef Jessica and her family use the Hard Sauce recipe from The Laura Secord Canadian Cook Book printed in 1966.
"Hard sauce melts delightfully on holiday pudding. Our English friends know it as brandy or rum butter." Excerpt taken from the cook book.

Ingredients:

  • 1/3 cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup sifted icing sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla or 1 tbsp rum, brandy or sherry (Chef Jessica likes a little more rum)

Method:

  1. Cream the butter. Gradually add the icing sugar and beat until fluffy.
  2. Blend in the rum.
  3. Chill. Serve cold. A good dollop on top of hot holiday pudding. 

 

Recipe halves easily and steamed pudding freeze well. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and tinfoil and keep frozen until next year.
Shop our curated collection of items specifically tailored to this recipe.  
  • Escali Arti Glass Kitchen Scale - Frost White

    $55.00

    The Escali Arti Digital Scale is capable of weighing both liquid and dry ingredients up to 15 pounds with 0.1 ounce or 1 gram increments. It featu...

    View full details
    $55.00
  • Cuisipro Stainless Steel Measuring Spoon Set - Cookery

    Cuisipro Stainless Steel Measuring Spoon Set

    $25.00

    These well designed measuring spoons are a baker's dream. Their oval shape makes getting into spice jars and other small containers easy and their ...

    View full details
    $25.00
  • Cuisipro 4pc Stainless Steel Measuring Cup Set

    $55.00

    Made of sturdy stainless steel. Measurements are permanently stamped on cup handles. Set includes: 1/4 cup, 1/3 cup, 1/2 cup, 1 cup. Oval shape wit...

    View full details
    $55.00
  • Scanwood Olivewood Spoon - 30cm/12"

    $19.00

    The rich colour and swirling pattern of the olive wood is not only beautiful, but also non-porous and resistant to stains, making it perfectly suit...

    View full details
    $19.00
  • Regency Parchment Paper Natural - 20 sq/ft

    $12.00

    Cooking and cleaning up is fuss-free when you use parchment paper, eliminating the need for additional oil and preventing your food from sticking t...

    View full details
    $12.00
  • Cuisipro Tempo Stainless Steel Pie Server - Cookery

    Cuisipro Tempo Stainless Steel Pie Server

    $25.00

    Serve cakes and pies with style using this elegant, mirror finish server.

    $25.00
  • KitchenAid 7-Speed Hand Mixer - Contour Silver

    $109.00

    Combine ingredients at speed one for slowly stirring in chunky ingredients, speed four for mashing potatoes, speed seven for beating egg whites an...

    View full details
    $109.00
  • Cuisipro Piccolo Grater

    $16.00

    The Cuisipro Mini Grater featuring Surface Glide Technology™ and soft-touch handle for easy grip. Perfect for zesting citrus, Parmesan, nutmeg and ...

    View full details
    $16.00
  • Regency Cooking Twine - 500ft

    $22.00

    This versatile cooking twine is perfect for tying your poultry and roasts. Available in a variety of sizes. 500ft /152m

    $22.00
  • Save 15%

    All-Clad 12QT.Multi-Cooker w/2 inserts & lid

    Original price $315.00
    Current price $269.00

    All-Clad's Stainless Steel Multi-Pots offer exceptional versatility. The large pot works well for canning, blanching, or making large batches of s...

    View full details
    Original price $315.00
    Current price $269.00
    Save 15%
  • Mason Cash Pudding Bowls -1L/17cm

    $29.00

    Founded in England in the 1800's Mason Cash has been firing high quality, traditionally styled pottery for hundreds of years! These Pudding Basins ...

    View full details
    $29.00
  • Mason Cash Pudding Bowls - 1.75L/20cm

    $33.00

    Founded in England in the 1800's Mason Cash has been firing high quality, traditionally styled pottery for hundreds of years! These Pudding Basins ...

    View full details
    $33.00
  • Sabre French Bistro Tart Slicer - Ivory

    $46.00

    Established in France in 1993 by Francis Gelb, Sabre Paris is renowned for the vast assortment of printed mix-and-match acrylic designs in i...

    View full details
    $46.00
  • Regency Parchment Sheets

    $9.00

    Use parchment paper to stop food from sticking to the pan without adding oil. This parchment paper comes in convenient packages of 6 pre-cut 12" x ...

    View full details
    $9.00
  • KitchenAid 9-Speed Hand Mixer - Candy Apple Red

    $129.00

    Combine ingredients at speed one for slowly stirring in chunky ingredients, speed six for mixing bread batter and creaming butter and sugar, then ...

    View full details
    $129.00
  • Save 15%

    All-Clad 16QT. Stock Pot

    Original price $350.00
    Current price $299.00

    Stockpots are true do-it-all"s when it comes to any liquid-related cooking. They have tall sides which reduce evaporation so thinner stocks and so...

    View full details
    Original price $350.00
    Current price $299.00
    Save 15%
  • Microplane Nutmeg and Cinnamon Spice Mill

    $25.00

    The Spice Mill is specifically designed to grind hard spices like cinnamon and nutmeg to optimize the flavor of your cooking and baking. Designed ...

    View full details
    $25.00
  • Escali Arti Glass Kitchen Scale - Rio Red

    $55.00

    The Escali Arti Digital Scale is capable of weighing both liquid and dry ingredients up to 15 pounds with 0.1 ounce or 1 gram increments. It featu...

    View full details
    $55.00
  • Escali Arti Glass Kitchen Scale - Shiny Silver

    $55.00

    The Escali Arti Digital Scale is capable of weighing both liquid and dry ingredients up to 15 pounds with 0.1 ounce or 1 gram increments. It featu...

    View full details
    $55.00
  • Kitchen Basics Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls - 8 Qt

    $26.00

    These heavy-duty stainless mixing bowls are multipurpose and easy to store. Made from high quality 18/10 stainless steel, they will soon be your ne...

    View full details
    $26.00
  • Mason Cash Pudding Bowls - 2.5L/22cm

    $46.00

    Founded in England in the 1800's Mason Cash has been firing high quality, traditionally styled pottery for hundreds of years! These Pudding Basins ...

    View full details
    $46.00
  • Mason Cash Mixing Bowl - 33cm/13" Caneware

    $109.00

    Founded in England in the 1800's Mason Cash has been firing high quality, traditionally styled pottery for hundreds of years and can be regularly s...

    View full details
    $109.00
  • All-Clad 8Qt Stainless Steel Stockpot w/Lid - Cookery
    Save 23%

    All-Clad d3 8Qt Stainless Steel Stockpot w/Lid

    Original price $614.00
    Current price $473.00

    All-Clad has been making bonded stainless steel cookware in Canonsburg , just outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania , since 1971. The brand is famous fo...

    View full details
    Original price $614.00
    Current price $473.00
    Save 23%
  • Save 40%

    Kitchen Colours Silicone Spoon 10” Red

    Original price $10.00
    Current price $6.00

    Kitchen Basics Silicone Spoon Spatula Max temp. 260C / 500F Length: 10” Red

    Original price $10.00
    Current price $6.00
    Save 40%
  • Pepper Tree Nutmeg Whole

    $12.00

    Originating from Eastern Indonesia, Nutmeg is really the pit of a fruit and not a nut at all. Nutmeg was heavily traded in the 16.th century when P...

    View full details
    $12.00
  • Regency Parchment Paper - 30 sq/ft

    $12.00

    Cooking and cleaning up is fuss-free when you use parchment paper, eliminating the need for additional oil and preventing your food from sticking t...

    View full details
    $12.00
  • Kitchen Basics Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls - 12 Qt

    $39.00

    These heavy-duty stainless mixing bowls are multipurpose and easy to store. Made from high quality 18/10 stainless steel, they will soon be your ne...

    View full details
    $39.00
  • Save 16%

    Sabre French Red Tartan The Essentials Gift Set

    Original price $189.00
    Current price $159.00

    Original price $189.00
    Current price $159.00
    Save 16%