Christmas Pudding in the US
 

We have a relative who loves fruit cake so we're considering a Christmas Pudding gift as an interesting variation. Could someone recommend one that's available in the US and representative of the type? We're not looking for either gourmet or bottom-end examples, preferably with little or no alcohol taste since the recipient is a non-drinker.

Christmas Pudding in the US
 

The only time I have seen this in the US was at Neiman Marcus. You might want to check to see if there are any British markets in your area.

I think this is more of a stocking stuffer.

In all seriousness, though, the pudding sounds like the sort of thing you might find at Cost Plus/World Market.

Looks like you can also order them online, from Amazon (what don't they sell?) and this place:
The English Tea Store

I have no idea if any of these are any good.

Christmas Pudding in the US
 

World Market carries Christmas Pudding, we just bought some

looks like a very heavy tasting item:
http://britishfood.about.com/od/christmas/r/xmaspud.htm

It IS very heavy. I have to be in the mood for it.

So do I, and it's definitely a once-a-year thing, and definitely with Brandy Butter.

As to the comment about low alcohol, that slightly defeats the point - it's not Christmas pudding without brandy.

Yes, it's very heavy. Best enjoyed with brandy butter and custard.;)

Agree completely.

It's been a few days - I can't believe someone hasn't responded to indicate that Costco has them, and for probably cheaper than you can get here. If not, it might be the first time I've seen a thread like this not end at Costco.

But how practical is the 10 gallon tin of pudding...?:D

Costco's stock does vary somewhat by store and/or region. I've never seen a British Christmas pudding at mine. They also have items at mine that family elsewhere can't find in theirs--so I believe you if you say a Costco, somewhere, does sell them.

...and there's that. :D

I'm assuming that "Christmas pudding" is some ghastly British dish this is not a pudding in the dessert sense, but some kind of casserole?

No. Christmas pudding is a dessert eaten after Christmas lunch which is usually turkey. It's amazingly heavy and amazingly rich but it is not ghastly. As I said, I like it but have to be in the mood for it.

The "have it with brandy butter and custard" posts above were a hint ;)

Hah, one just never knows. It seems the British call things puddings that I would not think of as pudding.

People either love or hate it. IME, for a lot of people who dislike it it's because they don't like "cake with fruit". Then again, there's not that many dishes that require alcohol laced butter to mellow soften the flavour a bit.:D

Or if you want to support a small family business instead of a big box store, you might be able to get it from http://ackroydsbakery.com/ but they don't have online ordering. You would have to call.

My grandmother made Christmas pudding with custard sauce when I was a kid. Haven't had it since then. I should probably make a trip to Ackroyds!


Edit: just found their online Christmas store: https://squareup.com/market/ackroyds-christmas-store

Google for recipes to make your own. The stuff can be steamed in various sorts of bowls rather than in a purpose made mold.

The general formula has to do with flour, eggs, sugar, fruit, etc. which is cooked by steaming for a couple of hours or more rather than baking. The product is a heavyish cake not to be confused with either pudding as we Americans know it nor fruit cake. Various versions of hard sauce can go with. Alcohol is optional from the light to the heavy.

Christmas Pudding in the US
 

Christmas puddings definitely aren't for everybody. Picked up one yesterday and served with brandy butter. I thought it was amazing; my wife and kids hated it. My son even spit his out. Sigh. On the plus side, all for me

http://www.amazon.com/Walkers-Shortb...s=xmas+pudding

I'd pick this one off the online options - it seems to be alcohol free, which is not, in my English experience, the norm (most soak the fruit in brandy or similar for moistness / flavor.

Fortnum & Mason make a decent pudding although my favourite is Duchy Originals. I think Neiman Marcus stocked the former in past Christmases.

I'm a bit cautious about puddings from local N. American bakeries as many of them don't actually make a "traditional" Christmas pudding. I've tried several that were described as "traditional" but were more of a cranberry pudding or marzipan covered ginger pudding. They all tasted fine, but when you're in the mood for a certain taste and get something else, it is a bit of a let down.

Either way, serve it with custard or at the very least a rich vanilla ice cream.

If your friend like the flavour of fruitcake, they might enjoy mince pies.

I don't know what you think of as pudding but the OED has two definitions:

1. A cooked sweet dish served after the main course of a meal; and
2. A sweet or savoury steamed dish made with suet and flour.