Can I make Nigella's Ultimate Christmas pudding without alcohol?
We have not made Nigella's Ultimate Christmas Pudding (from Christmas and on the Nigella website) without alcohol so we can't guarantee results but we suspect that it would be possible to make the pudding using orange juice or apple juice as an alternative.
Why do we put a coin in Christmas pudding?
A popular tradition was to add a silver coin (six pence) to the pudding batter and whoever found the coin in their serving would have good luck. Once cooked and cooled down, the puddings would be carefully wrapped and stored in the basement until ready for serving on Christmas. Can I Omit the Alcohol?
Can you freeze Christmas pudding that has been steamed twice?
If you are freezing the pudding then thaw it overnight in the fridge before the second steaming and make sure that it is piping hot all the way through before serving. We would also suggest perhaos considering Nigella's steamed Chocolate Pudding For Christmas Pudding Haters (from Christmas) as an alternative to a traditional Christmas pudding.
Does alcohol really cook away during cooking?
While this is not a new technique (cooking with alcohol has been around for hundreds of years), concerns about alcohol are becoming more common. So does the alcohol really cook away during the cooking process? It seems the answer is a bit more complicated than a simple yes or no.
Does the alcohol cook out of Christmas cake?
You can feed a cake that is warm with your chosen alcohol, though if the cake is too hot then the alcohol will evaporate a little as it hits the heat of the cake.
Does the brandy burn off in Christmas pudding?
This is because it isn't the pudding or the liquor that is on fire: it is in fact the vapour associated with the alcohol that burns. The flame never actually reaches the pudding itself. To set a Christmas pudding alight, the liquor must be warmed beforehand - otherwise there will be no vapour to ignite.
Can kids eat Christmas pudding with brandy?
Foods containing alcohol that are uncooked, such as gateaux, alcohol-soaked cakes and syllabubs should, of course, never be offered to children (as the alcohol is not evaporated and remains present) and, contrary to popular belief, even cooked foods can retain more alcohol content than many people realise.
Are Christmas puddings already cooked?
Christmas puddings are usually made many months in advance and have a second cooking before serving. Choose your preferred method to do this, in the microwave, on the hob or in the oven from the table below. Christmas puddings are usually made many months in advance and have a second cooking before serving.
Can 2 year olds eat Christmas pudding?
Any pudding using fresh fruit for moisture will go off quicker, whereas a Christmas pudding soaked in booze with a high sugar and dried fruit content will last much longer. Some Christmas puddings, made with dried fruit in the traditional way, are fine to be eaten even two years after they were made.
Why do we burn a Xmas pudding?
Why do we light Christmas pudding? It's said that the flaming brandy represents the Passion of Christ and traditionally there were 13 ingredients in the pudding, said to represent Christ's 13 disciples.
Can children have Christmas pudding with alcohol?
I made my own with brandy in it and my son had some. I think it cooks off so should be fine. Yes, alcohol gets cooked off, and christmas pudding gets cooked for hours so definitely fine.
Can kids have dessert with alcohol in it?
"There is no specific amount of ethanol (alcohol) that is considered safe for children," she says. "Interestingly, this is being evaluated not just in foods cooked with alcohol, but also in other household items containing alcohol, such as mouthwash or homeopathic medicines.
What is the alcohol content of Christmas pudding?
Results: The concentration of ethanol in common Christmas puddings ranged from 0.260 to 1.685 g per 125 mg slice. The concentration of ethanol per pudding was not greater than the stipulated specifications on the packaging, where shown.
How do I know if my Christmas pudding is cooked?
To test if the pudding's cooked, pierce the foil and paper with a skewer and wiggle it to make the hole bigger, or it will be wiped clean of any mixture when you pull it out.
Is it safe to reheat Christmas pudding?
Our answer. It is possible to reheat the Christmas pudding in a microwave. Ideally you would make the pudding in a plastic bowl and give it its full steaming (of 8 hours) first time around. You can then wrap the pudding and store it for reheating on Christmas day following the microwave instructions below.
Can I microwave a Christmas pudding instead of steaming?
Yes! With the right recipe, you can save heaps of time and effort by cooking your pudding in the microwave. Cooking traditional Christmas puddings involves hours and hours of boiling (at least 6 hours, and sometimes much more), which not everyone has time for in the busy festive season.
How do you pour brandy on Christmas pudding?
1:102:04How to light a Christmas pudding - BBC Good Food - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOver so now we're ready to light our christmas pudding so i'm just going to clear the area i've gotMoreOver so now we're ready to light our christmas pudding so i'm just going to clear the area i've got my brandy in a small saucepan. So i'm just going to gently warm it. Through.
How do you set fire to brandy on Christmas pudding?
0:551:56FLAMING A CHRISTMAS PUDDING - Set Fire to your Pud - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf you haven't got a candle you can always do this over the gas stove. And we're just going to heatMoreIf you haven't got a candle you can always do this over the gas stove. And we're just going to heat that brandy through as the brandy heats through. And as we tip. The brandy towards the flame.
What alcohol is used to flame a Christmas pudding?
brandyDouse the pudding Pour the lit brandy over the top of your Christmas pudding – the flames will transfer and – voilà! – a spectacularly festive flaming pud.
How do you burn brandy?
0:000:59How To Flambe Safely | 1 Minute Tips | French Guy Cooking - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipUse a small amount of alcohol and pour it from a container. Never directly from the bottle. AlwaysMoreUse a small amount of alcohol and pour it from a container. Never directly from the bottle. Always ignite with long matchsticks over the long rich lighter flambe burbs of the alcohol.
Flambe away? Not so fast! How much alcohol is really burned off? We've got the scoop
Here in the Test Kitchen, we receive questions about cooking with alcohol at least once a week. While this is not a new technique (cooking with alcohol has been around for hundreds of years), concerns about alcohol are becoming more common.
Grandma's Christmas Cake
One bite of this old-fashioned spice cake will bring back memories. Loaded with raisins and nuts, it tastes extra special drizzled with the rich buttery sauce. —Linda Stemen, Monroeville, Indiana
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Sue has been working with Taste of Home since 2011. When she isn’t writing, she’s answering your burning cooking questions and working with our team of Community Cooks. She spends her free time cooking, crafting, and volunteering for various organizations in her home town.
Baking and alcohol is like a match made in heaven. This post explains how and when to use alcohol in baking, along with a recipe of a delicious Boozy Bread Pudding. You do not want to miss this post
Baking is my first love when it comes to working in the kitchen. Sure, I do enjoy cooking but baking is where I come to my elements and I think, baking is where my knowledge is the most in depth as well. This boozy bread pudding is the proof to that!
Notes
So what are you waiting for, go raid that bar and take your baking a notch higher Also do check out the rest of the bloggers doing the A to Z Challenge If you make this, share a picture with me on twitter , instagram or Facebook? I would love to hear what you have to say about it !
What is Figgy Pudding? Plum Pudding? Christmas Pudding?
If you’re familiar with the figgy pudding Christmas carol, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, you may have asked yourself at some point, “what is a figgy pudding anyway?”
How Far in Advance Should I Make Christmas Pudding?
As with other Christmas goodies that are mean to be made in advance in order to allow their flavors to develop (e.g., Stollen, Printen, Springerle, Speculoos, etc), Christmas pudding was traditionally made several weeks before Christmas. The brandy acts as both a preservative and draws out more flavor from the other ingredients.
Can I Omit the Alcohol?
The brandy serves as a preservative for prolonging the shelf life of the pudding and also draws out more flavor from the ingredients as the pudding matures. You can omit the brandy if you prefer but the pudding will need to be stored in the fridge and consumed within a week.
How Long Should You Steam Figgy Pudding?
You’ll see different recipes recommending different times – anything from 3 hours to 8 hours.
How Long Does Plum Pudding Keep?
Three elements are key to a lengthy storage time: The alcohol and sugar content (preservatives) and proper storage. The pudding needs to be wrapped very tightly and stored in a cool place that is fairly dry but with enough humidity to keep the pudding from drying out. The ideal, and traditional, storage space is a basement or cellar.
How to Reheat and Serve Christmas Pudding
After your pudding is done maturing and you’re ready to serve it, unwrap it, place it back in the pudding mold, cover and re-steam it for 30-60 minutes or until heated through. Alternatively you can cover and microwave the pudding.
How to Light a Christmas Pudding
To set your Christmas pudding on fire pour some brandy, 3-4 tablespoons, into a soup ladle. Hold the ladle over a flame, tipping it slightly to allow the brandy to catch the flame. Once the brandy is on fire, slowly pour the flaming ladle over the top of the pudding; the fire will transfer to the pudding.
