Fit for a Queen: The Royal Family shares its Christmas pudding recipe

Here's the Christmas pudding the Queen will be tucking into for dessert. Photos: Getty

If there’s one thing the Royal Family does well, it’s tradition.

As a festive treat to the world, the Windsors have shared their recipe for a Christmas pudding.

It’s got all the usual suspects – dried fruits and citrus peel, spices – and a fair whack of booze.

Not just brandy, the Royals also throw in beer and rum. Ooft.

“Today is #StirupSunday: traditionally the day when home cooks ‘stir up’ their Christmas pudding mixture,” the Royal Twitter account posted.

🥄 Today is #StirupSunday: traditionally the day when home cooks ‘stir up’ their Christmas pudding mixture.

This year, chefs in the Royal kitchens have shared their recipe for a traditional Christmas pudding.

We hope that some of you enjoy making it in your own homes. pic.twitter.com/BNepTPJD6a

— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) November 22, 2020

Stir-up Sunday, the last Sunday before the season of Advent (which was November 22 this year, with Advent starting on November 29) has its roots in Anglican churches.

• Related: How to have a more sustainable Christmas

The Book of the Common Prayer declares the day with the phrase: “Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people”.

At some stage, that got translated into home cooks stirring up their Christmas puds for the season.

Prince George last year showed us how he mixes up the Christmas pudding, watched on by his proud dad, grandfather and great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth.

If it’s been done super traditionally, the whole family is involved, silver coins are dropped in the mix (for good luck) and the batter is stirred from east to west in a nod to the Three Wise Men, who visited Jesus in the manger.

• Related: Generations of royals in Christmas pudding mix-up

A traditional pudding, particularly an English one, has to be made well in advance of the day, left to prime, and then reheated on the day – this development time gives it the chance to develop that irresistible aroma that can overcome even the fullest of bellies.

The Christmas pudding tradition apparently has royal roots, introduced by Prince Albert and Queen Victoria.

The Royal Family’s Christmas pudding recipe

250g raisins
250g currants
185g sultanas
150g mixed peel
250g suet or vegetarian suet
250g breadcrumbs
90g flour
12g mixed spice
2 whole eggs
180g demerara sugar
275ml beer
40ml dark rum
40ml brandy

Makes two 1kg puddings