What Is Christmas Pudding?

[jacobsmith]

Usually comes with custard, brandy butter or brandy cream - basically more opportunities to add more alcohol

[nonamegiven]

"I don't really get it but you do you" *lights it on fire* i'm in"

[christopherg]

"Don't eat it until the flames have gone out."
has
"don't stand in the fire" energy.

[foreverwander]

As an American I have never seen one except in cartoons. Thanks for explaining it and giving us a better picture!

[Serai]

LOL, you kept going on about "you really don't know pudding?" and I was yelling at the screen YES WE DON'T HAVE THOSE. I'm glad you made this to show folks what it is.

[susanthefish]

Lighting a Christmas pudding on fire is the icon of a classic British Christmas

[andybearchan]

From what I understand of christmas pudding, pre-industrial revolution, is that they did not have a lot of sugar. Sugar was very expensive. The concentrated booze and rehydrated dried fruits brought all the sweetness. Modern recipes with treacle or molass have much less booze. Most american deserts are from the last century, where sugar and condensed milk were household staples.

[ashleysmith]

As my Dad (81) says every year - "I'll just have the gravy!"😅
(ie a glass of brandy)

[its-hannaH]

After YEARS of watching the bakeoff I finally understand what makes something a pudding

[rainyrayrae]

it actually looks really delicious when you get a more up close view - it has the look of a rich chocolate cake almost? like the texture of it.

[rugs.rags.]

Thank you for reminding me not to eat it while flaming because my dumbass absolutely would've done it.

[stephanginther]

Yeah, in American 'pudding' has come to mean things like tapioca pudding and other thick but still basically liquid sweet foods. I know it has more varied meaning across the pond.

[ghst_byfriend]

THAT'S what a pudding is??? 😮 I really thought I had picked up the varied meanings from context but I was so wrong! I would never in a million years have guessed that boiling things in a bag or cloth was in any way involved. Thank you for your service, this is a vital cross cultural PSA.🙏

[lloydritchey]

Never got to try a pudding while I was studying in the UK, but I did have trifle like three or four times cuz I charmed the retired old head mistress who put me up. Bless you in heaven, Vy, you wonderful old gal!

[sarahmoore]

American here-- I grew up with this! with hard sauce and lemon sauce! We used my great great grandmother's recipe (we have English ancestry on that side but have been American since the revolutionary war). But I did grow up with a lot of side eye from non family about it. Cheers from over here!

[niko]

You had me worried with "boil in a bag until solidifies, " but when you got to the ingredients, I totally changed my mind. Let alone the FIRE aspect!! I need to go on a hunt

[twistedpuppetOG]

Lol "WE SET IT ON FIRE!" Best part.

[JacksG]

"Our first response is usually the disgust response of a child" Accurate description since I was was first introduced to plum pudding at 7 or 8 years old. My dad's family would light it and then sing Joy to the World as it was brought to the dining room from the kitchen

[empressmarowynn]

I'll never forget the time our English exchange student asked after dinner if we had any pudding. We were very confused as to why she wanted such a specific dessert but we looked through the cabinets to see if there was a box of instant pudding. When we found one she was disappointed and we thought she just didn't like the flavor. This led to a hilarious realization for everyone that the word had different meanings for us. Yay the English language.

[LadeeGrimm]

Reminds me of our tradition: snap dragon, where you light brandied raisins on fire, then move them around with your fingers to keep the flames going. Once the flames go out you can eat the raisins. (it's a little different than the English tradition). We've never gotten hurt by it.