Christmas Cake and Pudding

I have a mental target to get my cake and pudding done by the end of September Mum.
But I think I might miss it this year. It's the sort of thing I like to do on a rainy day.
I haven't got a slow cooker. I make my pudding in a basin, cooked in a double saucepan steamer that belonged to my mum. The top has holes in it so the steam will surround the basin.
I think the steaming process is essential to get that moist texture of pudding. I think if you do it in a slow cooker it might turn out more like a cake.

Oh sorry just re-read your post and seen your pudding turned out well
However I haven't got a slow cooker so will continue with my steamer

Mrs. Peake makes my pudding.
We don't eat Christmas cake

Does anyone else thing the ritual of making Christmas cakes/puddings is dying out a little more with each generation? I remember my gran making them every year with sixpences in them. My Mum made them occasionally or got Nan to make them for her . I've only made them when my kids were little and my daughters don't bother at all they just buy the ones they like.
A bit sad if I'm honest its a nice ritual to pass on. I hope they all turn out well ladies.

I have only ever made Christmas pudding once - back in the late seventies. My then neighbour (who is still one of my greatest friends) had her mother's recipe and wanted to make it, but it made such a large quantity that she didn't think it would be practical, so we agreed to split the cost of the ingredients and make it between us. It was full of fruit and Guinness and brandy and we had huge fun that afternoon! It made us four large puddings - the best I've ever eaten - one for that Christmas and one even better having been twelve months matured. DH and I love Christmas pudding (still have one in the cupboard from last year) but the family are not so keen on it, preferring something lighter. As for cake - I think we've all gone off that. I usually make a chocolate log instead.

I agree. tanith not many people make their own these days those that do seem to be of our generation usually
Whether it's busier lives or what I don't know.

Always make a Christmas cake, never pudding although my MiL used to make the most fabulous puddings and we still miss them - and her. I have always made mine at the end of October, in the school holiday, still do although there is no reason why now. Creature of habit.

Bought all the ingredients, usually do it at half term but thinking I might crack on with it this weekend. Need to start now as I usually soak the fruit in brandy for about a week first!

I begin with Christmas chutney in October, then the pudding, then the cake. Tried gluten free last year and ended up with a version of bread pudding so I am unselfishly going to make normal stuff for family and buying a little pudding/cake for me

Love all the preparation -it's after Christmas I hate. If I had loads of money I would go somewhere warm for the first 3 months.

Plenty of time yet. Puds by 5th November always been my rule. Cake later. Chutney might or might not get done, sometime.

To the back of my mind it all goes!

So hope this thread doesn't run. Too early.

I have never made a Christmas pudding or cake and don't intend to do so.

Last time I made Christmas Cake DH accused me of giving him food poisoning Went to Dr said he had a gallstone went to hospital and it ended with him being told he was constipated

I shall make the cake in a few weeks time on a rainy day and we have a pud left over from last year. Love both and making them.

Is it really so close to the dreaded festival? I must rush downstairs and put the sprouts on!

I'm glad that this has come up now in time for baking. Can anyone share recipes for the C pudding & C cake please? Mine always turn out on the dry side.Thanks.

For making Christmas pudding I really recommend using a pressure cooker - saves so much time. They hiss alarmingly but you get used to it!

i always make christmas cake and puddings although i'm the only one eating them!
and i start baking in the october half term - used to be the time i wasn't working when i worked in a school.
my list of christmas baking is HUGE and most of it goes in the freezer for december.
incidentally my christmas cake recipe makes enough for three smallish cakes [7" round] so i have one at home, one to give to a friend when it's decorated and the other one i turn into a simnel cake with marzipan in the middle and freeze it until easter.
all the cakes and puddings have copious amounts of brandy in them and the christmas cakes are turned upsidedown and "fed" for a couple of weeks before being covered with almond paste.
and, call me old fashioned, but i make sweets [helped by the grandaughters] such as peppermint creams and marzipan fruits, cherries in brandy covered in chocolate and so the list goes.
i LOVE christmas.

The Christmas pudding I made last year had dried prunes in it! I don't usually like prunes but the pudding tasted lovely. I must find the recipe again. I cooked it overnight in the slow cooker and it was really moist. The cake I usually do is in the stork recipe book which I have had for years.

I'm making the pudding in the next few weeks and the cake in October
I always soak the fruit in booze first. Usually use theDelia recipe

I always make Christmas pudding, cake and mincemeat. Amassing the ingredients will start in October. I use a combination of Katie Stewart and Delia Smith recipes for the cake, Marguerite Costa's for the pudding ( it's very dark and has no sugar or flour), and Hugh Fearnley- Whittingstall's for the really simple mincemeat Love making these.
I use a pressure cooker for the pudding, and feed the cake weekly with extra brandy until it's iced.

I use Delia's Creole cake recipe. It's more booze than cake really and is absolutely delicious (if I say it myself as shouldn't!). I think I might look into making 4 small cakes this year so the DC can have one each. I'm the only one who likes traditional pud, so last year I gave in and made a clementine based one.

Neither needs storing for months, so I can relax for now and panic enjoy making them in December.

I love making chutney but I've never made one especially for Christmas . Any good recipes welcome please Whitewave?

Yes!! I'll post it later -just going to go out to garden centre to get stuff for front pots for autumn/winter. It's a Delia Christmas Chutney. It's probably on line but I will post it this evening