Plum Pudding
and Christmas Cake

This famous, typically English, dessert was given the name of plum pudding in the XVIIth century but had previously been called hackin from its many ingredients, sometimes reaching two dozen or more, which were finely chopped before being folded into the dough. The dessert was often prepared on Christmas morning and, generously sprinkled with brandy flamed as it was brought to the table, always served with great ceremony.

Christmas fruit cake is a derivative of the famous Christmas pudding or plum pudding. Although the recipe is simpler, this cake includes large quantities of candied fruit, raisins, dates and nuts and is just as delicious since it is prepared long in advance and regularly sprinkled with brandy or rum before being flamed when it is served.