Name: Next level Christmas pudding
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 40 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 100g sultanas -; 100g raisins -; 50g dried figs, chopped -; 50g mixed peel -; 150g glacé cherries (we used morello glacé cherries), 50g halved -; 50g stem ginger chopped, plus 1 tbsp of the syrup from the jar -; small piece of ginger, peeled and finely grated -; 1 small apple, peeled, cored and grated -; 1 small orange, zested and juiced -; 80g light muscovado sugar -; ½ tsp mixed spice -; 6 tbsp brandy -; 60g butter, frozen, plus 15g softened butter and extra for the basin -; 1 egg, beaten -; 50g ground almonds -; 50g blanched almonds, 1⁄2 chopped, 1⁄2 left whole -; 50g self-raising flour -; 60g fresh breadcrumbs, made from sourdough or brioche if possible -; brandy butter, custard or double cream, to serve -

Ingredients for - Next level Christmas pudding

1. 100g sultanas

2. 100g raisins

3. 50g dried figs, chopped

4. 50g mixed peel

5. 150g glacé cherries (we used morello glacé cherries), 50g halved

6. 50g stem ginger chopped, plus 1 tbsp of the syrup from the jar

7. small piece of ginger, peeled and finely grated

8. 1 small apple, peeled, cored and grated

9. 1 small orange, zested and juiced

10. 80g light muscovado sugar

11. ½ tsp mixed spice

12. 6 tbsp brandy

13. 60g butter, frozen, plus 15g softened butter and extra for the basin

14. 1 egg, beaten

15. 50g ground almonds

16. 50g blanched almonds, 1⁄2 chopped, 1⁄2 left whole

17. 50g self-raising flour

18. 60g fresh breadcrumbs, made from sourdough or brioche if possible

19. brandy butter, custard or double cream, to serve

How to cook deliciously - Next level Christmas pudding

1 . Stage

Put the sultanas, raisins, figs, mixed peel, halved glacé cherries, stem ginger, fresh ginger, grated apple and the orange zest in a bowl with the sugar and mixed spice. Pour in the orange juice and brandy, and stir well. Cover and leave to soak for at least 2 hrs, or overnight. If you don’t have time, put in a heatproof bowl and microwave for 1-2 mins until the dried fruit has plumped up, then leave to cool completely.

2 . Stage

Butter a 1-litre pudding basin and put a disc of baking parchment in the base. Stir the egg into the fruit mixture, then stir in the ground almonds and chopped blanched almonds, the flour and breadcrumbs. Finally, coarsely grate in the frozen butter, stirring the mixture frequently so it disperses evenly. Set aside.

3 . Stage

For the topping, mix the softened butter and ginger syrup together, and spoon into the base of the basin. Arrange the whole cherries and almonds over the butter mixture in a single layer, easing some up the side, too. (Chop and stir in any leftover cherries and almonds.)

4 . Stage

Spoon the batter into the basin, being careful not to disturb the topping too much, and smooth the surface using the back of the spoon. Cover with a sheet of baking parchment and a sheet of foil, folding a pleat down the centre to allow the pudding enough room to expand. Secure by tying tightly with kitchen string. Stand the basin in a deep, large pan on a trivet or upturned saucer, and pour boiling water from the kettle around it, so it comes about a third of the way up the side of the basin.

5 . Stage

Cover the pan with the lid and steam the pudding for 4 hrs, topping up with more water when necessary so the pan doesn’t boil dry. Alternatively, omit the sheet of foil, place the pudding on the plate and microwave on medium for 20-25 mins until cooked through and a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Or, lower the pudding into a slow cooker, pour boiling water around the sides as before, cover and cook for 8 hrs on low, topping up with more water when needed. If making ahead, leave to cool completely, then store in a cool, dry place for up to two months – you can feed the pudding with more brandy in the weeks leading up to Christmas, if you like. To reheat, steam or slow-cook the pudding for 1 hr, or microwave (without foil) for 8-10 mins before turning out.