Clootie Dumpling (spiced Fruit Dumpling)

Total Time: 4 hrs 10 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 4 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 4 ounces whole wheat flour
• 2 tablespoons black treacle or 2 tablespoons blackstrap molasses
• 2 eggs
• 6 ounces fine brown breadcrumbs
• 4 ounces finely chopped beef suet or 4 ounces butter
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 4 ounces sultanas (golden raisins)
• 4 ounces currants
• 1 large apple
• 1 lemon, juice of
• 1 lemon, zest of
• fresh orange juice, to mix

Recipe

• 1 take a 22" square of clean cotton or linen cloth. boil the cloth for a few minutes and then spread it out on a table (use tongs etc. to prevent burning yourself). quickly sprinkle with about a tablespoonful of flour and toss the flour to coat the main centre of the cloth quite thickly.
• 2 beat the treacle into the eggs and then place into a bowl with the remaining flour and all the other ingredients. mix to a stiff consistency. if needed, add a little orange juice.
• 3 pour the dough into the center of the cloth. bring up the edges and tie with a string, leaving a little space for expansion due to the inclusion of the baking powder. hold the tied ends and pat the cloth into a round shape.
• 4 place the pudding into a pot of boiling water, which should come halfway up the side. cover and simmer gently for 4 hours. occasionally check and top up the water if necessary.
• 5 once the pudding is cooked plunge it into cold water for about one minute to release it from the cloth. remove the pudding to a bowl and untie, cover with a plate and reverse it. peel off the cloth and place the pudding into a hot oven to dry off the surface. serve hot with your choice of dessert sauce - custard, brandy butter, hard sauce, etc.
• 6 any left-over clootie dumpling may be sliced, then fried, or wrapped in foil and reheated in a warm oven, or loosely covered with paper towel and reheated in a microwave.