Classic Christmas pudding

Step 1

Sift the flour with the spices then add the rest of the dry ingredients. Add the apple and mix well. Beat the eggs until frothy, stir in the orange juice, zest and stout. Add to the mixture and mix to combine thoroughly.

Step 2

Spoon into buttered basins (i use the plastic ones with snap on lids). This amount is enough to fill an 850ml basin and 3 × 425ml ones. Cover with a pleated piece of greaseproof paper before putting on the lid. Put into a saucepan on a trivet or upturned saucer and add boiling water to come a quarter of the way up the bowl and steam for six hours. Top up the water as you need to. Pour yourself a large glass of red wine and wait for the waft of cooking christmas pudding to emanate from the kitchen.

Step 3

Reheat by steaming again for an hour.