Every great Christmas pudding starts with someone deciding the traditional version could be better - and Sandra McLaren, an award-winning dessert designer and master confectioner, did exactly that. Frustrated by the dense, suet-heavy puddings of tradition, she stripped back the flour, removed the suet altogether and added extra butter instead, creating something noticeably lighter without losing any of the richness Christmas pudding is meant to deliver.
That recipe - zesty orange and lemon, plump prunes, flaked almonds, cinnamon and nutmeg, soaked in French brandy and Guinness stout and matured for a minimum of six months - has gone on to win a Great Taste Double Gold Star award and a glowing endorsement from the Financial Times, which described it as quite possibly the best Christmas pudding on the planet. It's also entirely vegetarian, made by hand in small batches, and available as individual and sharing puddings, mini puddings, a chocolate and orange liqueur variant, and gift-boxed sets.
For over twenty years, the same stall has stood at Borough Market every November and December, becoming something of a festive institution beneath London Bridge - proof that word of mouth and a genuinely excellent product can outlast any amount of marketing. Serve gently steamed with brandy butter or cream, or flame it tableside for full theatrical effect; either way, a glass of something rich from our fortified wine range makes the perfect accompaniment.
A Borough Market institution, a Great Taste Double Gold winner and, according to the Financial Times, possibly the best on the planet - this is Christmas pudding done properly. Order online at Farmfetch for easy UK delivery.
