STIR-UP SUNDAY

Sunday 22 November is Stir-Up Sunday this year, the traditional day to bake your Christmas cake, make some mincemeat or steam a pudding for the big day. So, grab a mixing bowl, pick a recipe (or try all three), and get in the Christmas mood

- BENJAMINA EBUEHI

Lighter Christmas pudding

If you want something lighter to finish off your meal, this pud is for you. It’s packed with all the classic fruits and spices, but uses butter instead of suet and steams in half the time of a traditional pudding.

SERVES 10-12

PREP 20 mins plus at least 3 hrs soaking and cooling

COOK 2 hrs 30 mins

MORE EFFORT V

• 150g sultanas

• 50g dried apricots

• 100g raisins

• 50g mixed peel

• 100ml rum

• 100g unsalted butter, plus extra for the basin

• 125g light brown soft sugar

• 1 lemon, zested

• 2 large eggs

• 125g plain flour

• 50g fresh breadcrumbs

• 1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon

• 1 ½ tsp mixed spice

• 1 small cooking apple, peeled, cored and finely chopped

1 Tip the sultanas, apricots, raisins and mixed peel in a bowl, and pour over the rum. Stir, cover and soak for at least 3 hrs or overnight.

2 Butter a 1-litre pudding basin and line the base with a small circle of baking parchment. Beat the butter, sugar and lemon zest in a large bowl using an electric whisk, until pale and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the flour, breadcrumbs and spices. Fold in the rehydrated fruits and peel, their soaking liquid and the apple. Spoon into the prepared basin, pressing it down firmly with the back of the spoon. Cover with a sheet of baking parchment, then a sheet of foil, and secure with kitchen string.