Steamed puddings have been enjoyed for centuries and are quite common to British cuisine. Unlike baked puddings, steamed puddings are made by steaming batter in a sealed container that is placed in a pot of simmering water. The result is a moist, tender, rich and indulgent dessert. Here are some steamed pudding recipes that you can make at home.
Steamed Treacle Pudding
Ingredients:
- 177 g flour
- 57 g dark brown sugar
- 2 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 71 g cold cubed butter
- 1 egg
- 150 ml milk
- 1 tbsp golden syrup + 5 tbsp for the pudding basin
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- Zest and juice of an orange
Instructions:
- Grease a 1-liter pudding basin with butter. Set aside.
- Mix flour, baking soda, ground ginger, and sugar together in a bowl.
- Mix the butter into the dry ingredients using your fingers so the flour resembles breadcrumbs.
- In another bowl, add egg, milk, golden syrup, vanilla extract, orange zest, and juice. Mix until well combined.
- Then add the liquid ingredients into the dry ones and mix well.
- Add about 5 tablespoons of the golden syrup into the pudding basin and swirl it around so it covers the bottom evenly.
- Finally pour the prepared batter into the pudding basin. Add a parchment paper lid over this, then a layer of foil. Secure the dish with a string.
- Place your steamer into a large pot with simmering water. Else, make your own steamer by upturning a heatproof plate and placing the pudding dish over it.
- Cover and steam for an hour and a half. You may have to replenish the water in the pot.
- Remove the parchment paper and foil, and carefully upturn the pudding into a serving dish.
- Serve the treacle pudding while it’s still warm with some whipped cream or good quality vanilla ice cream.
Spotted Dick
Ingredients:
- 250 g flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 125 g cold vegetable shortening or butter
- 180 g currants
- 80 g caster sugar
- Zest of a lemon
- Zest of a small orange
- 150 ml milk
- Pinch of salt
Instructions:
- First put flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
- Next, add vegetable shortening or butter, along with the citrus zests, currants, and sugar.
- Add the milk into this mixture and combine all the ingredients. If the mix is stodgy or thick, add a few more splashes of milk.
- Shape the dough into a log that is about 20 centimeters long.
- Place it on a baking tray covered with parchment paper, then wrap the log in it. Secure the ends of the parchment paper log with some string.
- Place the pudding log in a steamer for 1 ½ hours. Top the water regularly, if needed.
- Remove the pudding log from the steamer, unwrap, and slice. Serve warm with some homemade custard.
Steamed Jam Pudding
Ingredients:
- 175g flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 175g softened butter
- 175g caster sugar
- 3 tbsp jam
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 3 eggs
Instructions:
- Grease the bottom and sides of a 900 ml pudding basin, then spread 3 generous tablespoons of jam to the bottom.
- In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar, then add all the three eggs into this. Whisk until you achieve a smooth consistency.
- Sift the flour in another bowl, then fold it into the wet ingredients in batches.
- Transfer the batter into the prepared pudding dish.
- Create lids made with parchment paper and foil. Secure the pudding basin and the lids with a string or twine.
- Place the pudding basin into a steamer and cook for about 2 hours. Top up the water in the steamer occasionally.
- Once done, lift the pudding dish from the steamer, remove the lids, and upturn the dessert onto a serving dish.
- Serve it warm with some creme anglaise, custard, or vanilla ice cream.