Gifting Christmas Puddings

Our answer

Nigella's Ultimate Christmas Pudding (from NIGELLA CHRISTMAS) is an ideal Christmas gift and can be made up to 6 weeks in advance. If the pudding is a gift then it should go throught the initial steaming and then be given along with instructions on how to do the second 3 hour steaming. Nigella suggests making the pudding in a plastic pudding basin with a snap on lid and then wrapping the basin with foil before steaming. After the initial steaming let the puddings cool, then remove the foil from the outside of the basins and wrap each in a fresh layer of foil. Store the puddings in a cool, dark, dry place until you gift them.

If you are making the puddings in a basin without a lid, put a circle of baking parchment (parchment paper) over the surface of the pudding batter (once it is in the basin) and wrap the basin tightly in a double layer of clingfilm (plastic wrap) and a double layer of foil. After the initial steaming remove all of the wrapping and replace the parchment with a fresh piece. Re-wrap the basin with fresh clingfilm and foil and store as above until it is time to gift the puddings. Traditionally Christmas Puddings are made on Stir-Up Sunday and this year it is on Sunday 24th November 2019.