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What is figgy pudding?
It is a family of rich, fruit-filled puddings cooked by steaming or boiling. Common ingredients include dried fruit, flour, fat such as suet or butter, sugar, and warming spices. Some recipes add brandy or rum for flavor. The exact ingredients vary by recipe and period: there is no single recipe that defines every figgy or Christmas pudding.
The word “pudding” can be misleading to readers in the United States. This is not a custard eaten with a spoon. Its cooked texture is dense and cake-like. Historically, a pudding could be tied in a floured cloth or cooked in a basin and boiled in a large vessel; modern descriptions commonly use steaming.
The Natural History Museum’s account of a Victorian Christmas pudding recipe lists dried grapes—including raisins, sultanas, and currants—along with citrus, flour, sugar, and spices. Food Network describes figgy pudding as a steamed, cake-like dessert that may use suet or butter and brandy or rum. Those descriptions illustrate the tradition’s range, rather than a fixed formula.
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- his Cole’s Figgy Christmas Pudding is made using traditional plum pudding with figs, currants, and dark rum.
- We recommend serving your Figgy Christmas pudding with clotted or devon cream, brandy sauce, or brandy butter.
- This pudding is also suitable for vegetarians, as it contains no suet.
- Imported from England for the holidays. 275g / 9.7oz
- (approximately 2-3 servings).
Does figgy pudding actually contain figs?
Not necessarily. The name is strongly linked to the carol, but later versions often relied on raisins, currants, and other dried fruits instead of figs. Early versions could include figs, but the name persisted as recipes changed. “Plum pudding” can be confusing for the same reason: in older English usage, “plum” could refer to dried fruit such as raisins and currants, not just fresh plums.
Are figgy pudding, plum pudding, and Christmas pudding the same?
The names overlap, but they are not a guarantee of one identical recipe. Their meaning depends on period, source, and usage. The safest way to understand them is as related names in a changing English pudding tradition.
Rank #2
- Festive Plum Pudding 454g is, slowly steamed and packed with succulent vine fruits and warming spices for a classic taste of Christmas
- Succulent vine fruits for a luscious texture plum pudding
- Warming mix of spices offering a comforting aroma
- Steamed to perfection in small batches for a truly moist pudding
| Name | What it tells you | What it does not guarantee |
|---|---|---|
| Figgy pudding | A name familiar from the Christmas carol and used for a dried-fruit pudding tradition. | That the pudding contains figs. |
| Plum pudding | A traditional name in which “plum” could mean dried fruit. | That it contains fresh plums. |
| Christmas pudding | A pudding associated with Christmas; an 1819 recipe was titled “Boiled plum or Christmas pudding,” according to the Library of Congress. | One universal ingredient list or cooking method across all periods and households. |
How did it become a Christmas tradition?
English Christmas pudding developed from older boiled or steamed puddings, but the centuries-long history should not be mistaken for an unchanged recipe. Texas A&M historian Troy Bickham notes that “figgy pudding” appears in written records by the 14th century; those early mixtures were not necessarily the same dish people mean by Christmas pudding today.
A clearer milestone for the later Christmas association comes from the Library of Congress: Elizabeth Hammond’s 1819 recipe was titled “Boiled plum or Christmas pudding.” The Library also points to an illustration of a Christmas pudding in Thomas Hervey’s The Book of Christmas in 1836. Both records predate Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, published in 1843, so Dickens did not invent the dish or its Christmas connection.
Rank #3
- AUTHENTIC UBE: Traditional Filipino purple yam pudding mix that creates a delightful dessert with a rich, vibrant purple color and smooth texture
- QUICK PREPARATION: Just add 2.1 cups (500ml) of water and follow simple boiling instructions for perfect results every time
- CONVENIENT SIZE: Each package contains 5.29 oz (150g) of instant pudding mix, perfect for making a family-sized dessert
- EASY PROCESS: Three-step cooking method includes bringing to boil, simmering for 3 minutes, and cooling until set
- SERVING SUGGESTION: Can be poured into decorative molds for an elegant presentation, best served chilled from the refrigerator
Dickens did help give the pudding a vivid place in popular Christmas imagery. In A Christmas Carol, Mrs. Cratchit presents a boiled pudding decorated with holly and set alight with brandy. The Library of Congress quotes Dickens describing it as “with the pudding, like a speckled cannon-ball, so hard and firm.” The scene makes the pudding a memorable part of the Cratchit family’s feast, not the origin of the tradition.
The carol “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” also celebrates figgy pudding as a seasonal treat. Smithsonian Magazine notes that the carol’s precise origin is uncertain; a possible 16th- or 17th-century setting has been suggested, but its provenance should not be treated as settled fact.
Rank #4
- One 3.4 oz box of Jell-O Cheesecake Artificially Flavored Instant Pudding & Pie Filling Mix
- Jell-O Cheesecake Artificially Flavored Instant Pudding & Pie Filling Mix is a sweet treat on its own as well as a perfect ingredient for dessert recipes
- Contains 90 calories per serving
- Simply mix with 2 cups of cold milk and allow to set for 5 minutes; refrigerate any leftovers
- Each pudding mix is individually packaged in a sealed pouch for freshness
What is Stir-up Sunday?
Stir-up Sunday is a customary day for preparing Christmas pudding ahead of the holiday. The name comes from a church prayer beginning “Stir up,” rather than originating as a recipe instruction. The household custom of taking turns stirring the mixture became associated with making wishes for good luck.
Preparing the pudding in advance suited a dessert that was boiled or steamed and could be made ahead of Christmas. The custom links the practical work of preparing the dish with the shared seasonal ritual around it.
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- The Figgy Pudding design is for fig lover or sweets eater who loves eating Christmas dish and holiday desserts. You love the sweet flavor and savory cake recipe? Then you'll love this too!
- I believe in the healing power of Figgy Pudding
- Lightweight, Classic fit, Double-needle sleeve and bottom hem
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