A steamed pudding is a quintessentially British thing. Part cake, part sponge pudding and all delicious. Steaming results in a lovely moist but still-light sponge that is perfect comfort food throughout the winter months. Serve it with lashings of whipped cream or a generous amount of custard.
Endlessly adaptable, sponge pudding with syrup is probably the most common, closely followed by jam. The topping soaks into the top of the cooked pudding, creating graduated layers.
My pudding is gently spiced, and filled and topped with apple and blackcurrant jam. I cooked it in my REDMOND Multicooker, which is one of the most useful gadgets that I own (initial review here). For those not in the know, the multicooker will fry, stew, steam, boil, bake & slow cook with its 35 functions, making it adaptable as well as compact. A steamed pudding takes a good hour or so to cook, and takes up a valuable ring on the hob, so cooking it in the multicooker gives you back that cooker space. The tightly fitting lid of the REDMOND also means there is less steam condensing in your kitchen.
Loved this ? Then check out my Christmas pudding!
A few tips for this recipe.
- Let the butter soften for a good few hours
- Use any apples – I used two dessert apples from my mother’s garden – no need to peel them before grating
- Butter the pudding basin well
- Don’t be afraid to play with the flavours – this would be delicious made with either my homemade cherry jam or my easy blackberry jam
- Double cover the pudding with cling film, and tin foil secured with a rubberband.
Recipe: Blackcurrant & Apple Steamed Pudding
Ingredients
- 175 g butter - cut into small cubes
- 125 g white caster sugar
- 50 g soft brown sugar
- 3 free range eggs
- 175 g self raising flour
- Pinch salt
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tbs milk
- 1 small apple - grated
- 3 tbs blackcurrant jam
- Extra jam to serve
- 1/2 small apple - peeled and cut into 1cm chunks
Instructions
- Place the butter and sugars into a large mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer until pale and fluffy. Slowly beat in the eggs.
- Fold in the flour, salt and cinnamon, adding the milk, if needed, to loosen it until you have a smooth batter. Fold in the grated apple and half of the jam.
- Butter a 1.2litre/2 pint glass pudding basin well, and put the remainder of the jam and the apple chunks at the bottom.
- Carefully spoon the batter over the jam and apple, and smooth it so the top is even.
- Cover the bowl with a double layer of clingfilm (press it down so it is not tight across the top), then add a piece of pleated tin foil and secure with an elastic band.
- Place the pudding on a trivet, or jar lid in the cooking pot of the REDMOND Multicooker, and fill with water to halfway up the pudding basin.
- Select MULTICOOK, with a temperature of 100C and allow to steam for two hours.
- Check periodically and top the water up if needed.
- To serve remove the foil and cling film, run a pallet knife around the pudding to loosen and flip out onto a plate or cake stand. Heat some more jam and pour over the pudding if desired.
Notes
-
- Let the butter soften for a good few hours
- Use any apples - I used two dessert apples from my mother's garden - no need to peel them before grating
- Butter the pudding basin well
- Don't be afraid to play with the flavours - this would be delicious made with my homemade cherry jam or my pear and blackberry jam.
- Double cover the pudding with cling film, and tin foil secured with a rubberband
Recipe commissioned by Redmond – I use a Redmond RMC-M4502E Multicooker currently priced at £104.90 .
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Johanna GGG
this pudding looks really impressive – my mum used to make a steamed pudding with jam that we loved
Helen
I love a good steamed pudding, perfect comfort food for easing into winter.
Sarah, Maison Cupcake
Don’t think I’ve ever made my own steamed pudding from scratch. Fab to know you can do this in the Redmond too!
Helen
So easy to make, Ed loves this type of pudding, I really should make them more often for him!
Jenn @ peas and crayons
Such a cool kitchen gadget! I’m wholeheartedly in love with anything black currant and cannot wait to try this! Thanks Helen!
Helen
I was rather pleased with it Jenn.
Lindy
I remember the first time I made a steamed pudding, pumpkin for Thanksgiving here in the states, in a metal canister – your multi-function device looks so much easier – but the pudding was great. And we were told to put a coin in it, and whomever found the coin would have a year of good luck. Your pudding sounds amazing. Cheers ~ Lindy
Helen
Well you can just boil them in a saucepan. Love my multicooker as it does the job of several gadgets.
nazima
what a delicious winter pudding! Perfect for the cold evenings – and love those jammy cooked berries.
Helen
Thanks Nazima, perfect for using up a post of jam!
Teresa
How do you make it without a multicooker? I don’t have one but I’d like to try steamed pudding, it looks really nice…
Helen
You can make in either a slow cooker or in a saucepan or gently simmering water.
Sharon (Nut Free Wok)
This is so exciting for me to find your recipe. My mom taught me how to make Chinese sponge cakes by steaming them. It’s so very good, especially with the beautiful toppings in your recipe.
Helen
I think steamed cakes are so very very good. Lovely texture and so moist.
fabiola@notjustbaked
This looks so good and super creative!
Helen
Steamed puddings are such a classic. I love mixing them up and making new flavours.
Annie @ Annie's Noms
Oooh blackcurrant and apple go SO well together! I love this recipe, it just looks delicious!
Helen
Thanks Annie, I just love a good comforting steamed pudding.
Michele
Helen… I’ve never had a steamed pudding before. But between the beautiful pics you took and the descriptions I am thinking I’ll have to remedy that. Would my traditional slow cooker work for this?
Helen
Yes, absolutely. I programmed my multicooker to behave like a slow cooker. You will need to experiment with the setting, but low should be about right.
Darlene @ Dip Recipe Creations
Beautiful photos! This looks super amazing!
Helen
Thank you Darlene – we really enjoyed it!
Ann@CreatedToCook
Your lovely recipe and pictures make me want to put on a tea kettle, whip up a proper English pudding and invite some girlfriends over for a nice chat.
Helen
I love a good steamed pudding Ann. Perfect for a relaxed time with friends.
Janice
ooh I love a steamed pudding and this is such a lovely seasonal pud.
Helen
I love a good steamed pudding. Endless variety here.
Elizabeth
Oh gosh this looks absolutely stunning! A great recipe idea for the multicooker – I’ve got plenty of blackcurrants in my freezer. I must try this!
Helen
I am sure it would be even better with homemade jam Elizabeth!
Kevin Chambers-Paston
I love how fabulously British this recipe is. I grew up eating sponge puddings and my mouth is watering just looking at this one; helped, of course, by your fabulous pictures!
Helen
Thanks Kevin, we love our steamed puddings!
Nadia's Healthy Kitchen
This looks delicious and the flavour combo sounds perfect – cinnamon + blackcurrant jam, YUM! I’ve never made a steamed pudding before and don’t think I’ve ever had one either! After seeing this I MUST try it soon!
Helen
We love steamed puddings Nadia, I am sure that with the grated apple in it, it does count as healthy?
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry
Oh, another thing to make in the lovely multicooker – and it is pudding too.
Helen
I adore the multicooker. Super machine.
Sally - My Custard Pie
Love blackcurrants and puds that can be made in a slow cooker…. and anything that can be served with custard!
Helen
Cream rather than custard for me Sally!
Alida
I don’t comment very much but I wanted to say your photos look so fantastic! This pudding is just incredible. Brava!
Helen
Thanks you Alida! We do like a good steamed pudding.
Jack
Steamed puddings are the upside of winter. Cover with custard, result: yum!
Helen
I agree, and so easy to make in a slow cooker.