Christmas Pudding (Crockpot)

By zircon50

Ingredients

• 1 and 1/2 cup Raisins
• 1 and 1/2 cup Golden Raisins
• 1 cup Dried Wild Blueberries
• 1/2 cup Marishcino Cherries (halved with stems removed)
• 1/2 cup Orange marmalade (with large chunks of peel)
• 1/2 cup Dried Pineapple (chopped in small pieces)
• 1/2 cup Dried Cranberries
• 1/2 cup Dates (chopped)
• 1/2 cup Walnuts (chopped)
• 1/2 cup almonds (slivered)
• 1 cup Brown Sugar
• 2 and 1/2 cups Breadcrumbs
• 2 cups All-purpose Flour
• 1/8 teaspoon Salt
• 2 teaspoons Pumpkin Pie Spice
• 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon Nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon Ground Cloves
• 1 Green Apple (peeled and grated)
• 1 Carrot (peeled and grated)
• 8 oz Melted Butter (2 sticks)
• 1 Lemon (juice and grated rind)
• 1 Orange (juice and grated peel)
• 4 Eggs (whisked)
• 2 fl oz Brandy
• 1 cup Guinness Stout (8 fluid ounces)

Preparation

Step 1

Step 1 Chop the dried pineapple into small pieces and mix into the marmalade. Cover and let stand for 1 hour before mixing the pudding.

Step 2 Add the raisins, golden raisins, dried wild blueberries, dried cranberries, and chopped dates to a large mixing bowl. Remove the stems from the maraschino cherries, cut into halves, and add to the fruit in the bowl.

Step 3 Add the chopped walnuts and slivered almonds to the mixing bowl.

Step 4 Add the brown sugar and bread crumbs and mix well.

Step 5 Sieve the flour, salt and spices, then stir into the prepared fruit and nuts.

Step 6 Add the grated apple and carrot, the grated lemon and orange peel.

Step 7 Pour the melted butter over the fruit mixture and combine well together.

Step 8 Whisk the eggs together in a small bowl. Add the fruit juices and brandy and whisk again. Add the marmalade and pineapple mixture to the eggs. Mix together well before adding the egg mixture to the prepared fruit and nuts in the large bowl. Mix well together.

Step 9 Pour the Guinness stout over the fruit mixture and combine together gently, but thoroughly, mixing the stout throughout the pudding mixture.

Step 10 Cover the mixing bowl with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Leave the mixture for at least 12 hours before cooking, to allow the flavors time to blend.

Step 11 Brush the inside of two glass pudding bowls, that can withstand boiling temperatures, with melted butter. This recipe makes one 1 and 1/2 quart size pudding, and one larger 2 and 1/2 quart size.

Step 12 Place approximately two-thirds of the pudding mixture in the larger bowl, and the remainder in the smaller glass steaming bowl.

Step 13 Cover the bowls with a large piece of parchment paper, with a fold creased into the center. Secure around the rim of the bowl with cotton thread. Cover the entire bowl and parchment paper cover in aluminum foil.

Step 14 Using cotton twine or thread create a handle around the prepared bowl for ease of lifting in and out of a crockpot. Place the bowl in a crockpot large enough for the pudding bowl to stand a minimum of a 1/2-inch away from the walls of the crockpot basin.

Step 15 Add water to the crockpot to cover three-quarters of the height of the pudding bowl. Cook on high power for 1 hour, then reduce to low heat for an additional 5 hours for the smaller pudding and 6 hours for the larger pudding.

Step 16 Remove the bowl from the crockpot and allow to cool for two hours before unwrapping the pudding.

Step 17 Place a plate under the cooking bowl, turn it over, and allow gravity loosen the pudding onto the plate. Wrap the pudding in aluminum foil when fully cooled. Store in an air-tight container for 4 to 6 weeks prior to eating. To reheat the pudding, place back into a steaming bowl. Prepare the bowl as outlined above and resteam on high for 1 hour in a crockpot.

Step 18 Serve in slices with egg custard or whipped cream, or brandy butter.