Carrot Pudding with a Brown Sugar Sauce

Tuesday 16 April 2013

 Carrot Pudding with a Brown Sugar Sauce

This is a very old recipe which I have had in my files for a very long time.  It is a recipe which was given to me by my mother in law back in the early 1970's.

Lord knows how long she had it kicking around!   It's a very thrifty pudding which makes great use of things most of us, if not all of us, have in our larders at any given time.

 Carrot Pudding with a Brown Sugar Sauce

It's very similar to a suet pudding, but there is no suet involved.  This pudding uses good old butter!  Mmmm . . . adds to the richness.   There are carrots involved, of course. . . . Carrot pudding duh . . .

It is really moist, with the carrots and believe it or not grated potato.   Additional moistness comes from the use of Brown sugar . . . brown sugar always adds moistness.

 Carrot Pudding with a Brown Sugar Sauce

The original recipe had no spice in it . . . I added these . . . sweet cinnamon, fiery ginger . . . baking spices . . . ground cloves, nutmeg and cardamom.  Warm baking spices . . .delicious.

Think of this as carrot cake . . . but stodgier . . . steamed and not baked . . . it is a pudding that was often on the holiday menu and sometimes just for just for . . .

Carrot Pudding with a Brown Sugar Sauce

The brown sugar sauce is typically what I serve with it . . . but a bit of clotted cream would never go amiss . . . or custard sauce . . . vanilla ice cream . . . pouring cream.  

All are equally as good. Just not all at once!

 Carrot Pudding with a Brown Sugar Sauce

Best thing about it is that it's easy . . . and it's delicious . . . economical . . . and you can basically just leave it to cook itself without heating up the oven or having to keep an eye on it.

It is steamed and as long as you keep the water in the bottom of the steamer topped up you will be fine.

Carrot Pudding with a Brown Sugar Sauce

I cook it in a pudding basin but a heat proof bowl also works very well.  You could even do individual ones, but of course in that case the steaming time would be greatly reduced.  

I would check them for done-ness at 40 minutes.

 Carrot Pudding with a Brown Sugar Sauce

I do hope that you will give this delicious pudding a try.   I have never known anyone to turn their nose up at it and most people come back for seconds.  

Leftovers reheat very easily as well.

 Carrot Pudding with a Brown Sugar Sauce

*Carrot Pudding with a Brown Sugar Sauce*
Serves 8 to 10 people
Printable Recipe

Old fashioned, economical, easy and delicious!

7.5 ounces soft light brown sugar (1 cup packed)
4 ounces butter, softened (1/2 cup)
2 large free range eggs, beaten
1 tsp vanilla extract
6 1/2 ounces plain flour (1 1/2 cups)
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp each of cloves, nutmeg and ground cardamom
2 medium carrots, peeled and grated (1 cup)
2 medium potatoes, peeled and grated, squeezed dry ( 1 cup.  Squeeze all the water out and discard before measuring.)
6 ounces of sultana raisins (1 cup)

For the Brown Sugar Sauce:
3.75 ounces of soft light brown sugar (1/2 cup)
2 ounces butter (1/4 cup)
2 TBS golden syrup ( can use corn syrup)
125ml of double ( heavy or whipping) cream (1/2 cup)
1 1/2 tsp vanilla

Have ready a pot of simmering water, fitted with a steaming basket and a lid.  Butter a large pudding basin and set aside.

Cream together the brown sugar and butter.  Beat in the eggs and vanilla.  Sift together the flour, soda, salt and spices.  Stir this into the creamed mixture.  Fold in the carrots, potatoes, and raisins.  Spoon the pudding into the prepared pudding basin.  Take a large sheet of foil.  Butter it well and make a pleat in the centre.  Fit this over the top of the pudding basin, leaving room for expansion.  Secure with a rubber band or some twine and make air tight.

Place this into the steamer basket over the boiled and simmering water.  Cover tightly with a lid.  Steam for 3 hours, checking periodically to make sure that the water doesn't run dry.   Add more boiling water carefully as needed.

Remove the steamer basket.  Remove the foil carefully.  There will be steam.  Carefully slide a knife around the inside edge of the bowl to loosen.  Invert a serving plate over top and then carefully tip out the finished pudding.  Serve warm, cut into wedges along with the brown sugar sauce, custard, cream or ice cream.

To make the brown sugar sauce, place all of the ingredients into a small saucepan.  Bring to the boil, then simmer, stirring occasionally to help prevent it from catching, over a very low heat for about five minutes.

Note:  Any leftovers can be reheated by placing into a steamer basket and steaming over simmering water until heated through, or covered and heated for about 40 seconds in the microwave.

10 comments

  1. I have never made a steamed pudding, I will try this one, have a good day marie,

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  2. I bet this is VERY ENGLISH! Sounds wonderful!

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  3. I'm loving the sounds of this steamed pudding and like that it isn't made with suet - will have to try it soon, thanks!!

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  4. I have been making and eating a pudding so close to your recipe. Yes we call it Carrot pudding and it is accompanied by a brown sugar sauce. The recipe has been passed down the generations for years. I am glad I am not the only one with a lovely steamed pudding recipe. We usually serve this after our Christmas turkey dinner. Thank you for sharing.

    Kim

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  5. I like this so much better than the traditional Christmas Pudding Kim! xxoo

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  6. I have fond memories of this pudding. My dear friend Christine would make it at Christmas. I have spent more than one day between Christmas and New Year sledding and warming up by eating a big bowl of this deliciousness afterwards, sharing a pot of tea and a bag of Malteasers... then feeling ill beyond belief!! Good memories of times long gone indeed. Thank you Marie. I may not wait till next Christmas to make this edible memory.

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  7. Awww thanks so much for sharing Noelle! Nice. One of my boys cannot eat Malteasers to this day beause he made himself sick eating a whole carton of them. I think they called them Whoppers back home! Whenever you do make this pudding, I hope you enjoy it! xoxo

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  8. I tried it! It came out moist and delicious. My family loves it for a Christmas dinner dessert. Highly recommend.

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    Replies
    1. I am so pleased that you tried it and enjoyed it! Thank you very much for taking the time to share your experience! xo

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