Christmas pudding
Steamed or boiled sweet pudding with dried fruit, served at Christmas dinner
Christmas pudding is a rich, dark, steamed or boiled dessert made with dried fruit, suet, breadcrumbs, sugar, treacle, eggs, and spices. Originating in medieval England, it is a traditional part of Christmas dinner in Britain and former British colonies. The pudding is often made weeks in advance and served warm or cold, sometimes flambéed with brandy.
- Traditionally served at Christmas dinner in Britain and former colonies
- Made with dried fruit, suet, breadcrumbs, sugar, treacle, eggs, and spices
- Often flambéed with brandy and decorated with holly
- Family members each stir the mixture for luck on 'Stir-up Sunday'
- Coins or tokens are sometimes hidden inside for good fortune
What is Christmas pudding?
Christmas pudding is a dense, moist dessert, nearly black in colour from dark sugars, treacle, and long cooking. It is packed with dried fruit, suet (animal fat), breadcrumbs, eggs, flour, and a mix of sweet spices. Some recipes add citrus juice, brandy, or dark beer for extra richness. The pudding is steamed or boiled for hours, giving it a firm, sliceable texture. It is usually served at the end of Christmas dinner, often decorated with holly and sometimes set alight with warm brandy.
Where does Christmas pudding come from?
The dish traces its roots to medieval England, where puddings combined dried fruit, suet, breadcrumbs, flour, eggs, and spices, with liquids like milk or fortified wine. Early versions were boiled in a cloth and sometimes included meat. Over time, as preserving techniques improved, the pudding became sweeter and lost its savoury elements. By the 19th century, it was firmly linked to Christmas, especially after Eliza Acton's 1845 recipe and its appearance in Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol.'
How is Christmas pudding made?
To make Christmas pudding, ingredients like dried fruit, suet, breadcrumbs, sugar, treacle, eggs, flour, and spices are mixed, sometimes with citrus juice, brandy, or dark beer. The mixture is placed in a basin or wrapped in cloth, then steamed or boiled for several hours. Traditionally, each family member stirs the mixture for good luck. The pudding is often made weeks ahead to let the flavours mature. Before serving, it is reheated by steaming and may be flambéed with brandy.
How and when is Christmas pudding eaten?
Christmas pudding is served as the final course of Christmas dinner, usually warm. It is often brought to the table with ceremony, sometimes flaming with brandy and topped with a sprig of holly. People eat it with accompaniments like brandy butter, rum butter, cream, custard, or ice cream. A tradition is to hide a coin or small token in the pudding; whoever finds it is said to have good luck in the coming year.
Kinds of Christmas pudding
Family recipes for Christmas pudding vary, with some handed down for generations. The pudding spread to countries like Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and South Africa, where local ingredients may be used. In the 1920s, a royal recipe included ingredients sourced from across the British Empire. Some versions use different alcohols, or add nuts and candied peel. In the United States, similar puddings were made with bread and milk.
What Christmas pudding means
Christmas pudding is a symbol of British Christmas tradition and has been celebrated in literature and art. The ritual of making it on 'Stir-up Sunday' involves the whole family. Its association with good luck tokens and flambéing adds to its festive character. The pudding was promoted as a symbol of unity in the British Empire, and giant versions have been made for charity. Its place at the Christmas table is a cherished custom in many English-speaking countries.
When Christmas pudding is on the table
Questions people ask about Christmas pudding
What is Christmas pudding made of?
It is made from dried fruit, suet, breadcrumbs, sugar, treacle, eggs, flour, and spices, with some recipes including citrus juice, brandy, or dark beer.
Where does Christmas pudding come from?
Christmas pudding originated in medieval England and became a traditional part of Christmas dinner in Britain and countries influenced by British customs.
Why is it called plum pudding if there are no plums?
In older English, 'plum' meant 'raisin.' The pudding contains dried fruit like raisins, but not modern plums.
How is Christmas pudding served?
It is usually served warm at the end of Christmas dinner, sometimes flambéed with brandy and accompanied by brandy butter, cream, or custard.
What is the tradition of hiding a coin in the pudding?
A small coin or token is hidden in the pudding before cooking; finding it in your serving is said to bring good luck for the coming year.
Good reading and sources
- Christmas pudding on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Christmas pudding", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Thali rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes, and it is not dietary or allergy advice: recipes differ from cook to cook. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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