December 2021

Granny Bertioli’s Christmas pudding with Grandma Hibbert’s brandy butter

Name: Christmas pudding with brandy butter
Ingredients: 225g fresh white breadcrumbs; 225g suet; 225g soft brown sugar; 50g ground almonds; 1 heaped tsp mixed spice; ¼tsp ginger; 50g plain flour; ¼tsp bicarbonate of soda; 3 eggs; 200ml ale; 50g candied peel; 225g raisins; 225g currants; 225g sultanas; 1 lemon, zest, and juice; 20g caster sugar; 50ml brandy; 25g butter, for greasing; 225g caster sugar; 225g softened butter; 110g blanched almonds, lightly toasted, then ground; 100ml good brandy

Charlie Hibbert shared his Christmas recipes with us this year, including a pudding that honours both his grandmothers

By Charlie Hibbert

17 December 2021

Granny made the Christmas pudding every year, although she used vegetarian suet and I like to use proper beef suet. It was always accompanied by brandy butter, lovingly made by Grandma. It isn’t Christmas in our household without it.