The Royal Family has shared their recipe for the Queen's Christmas pudding, but many chefs have shared their shock that it contains beer, an ingredient traditionally used in a peasants' version of the dish.
Taking to the official Royal Family Instagram page, palace chefs shared a video making the boozy dish - which also contains dark rum and brandy.
They wrote: 'Today is Stir-up Sunday: traditionally the day when home cooks "stir up" their Christmas pudding mixture on the Sunday before the Advent season - and the countdown to Christmas - begins.
HOW TO MAKE ROYAL FAMILY'S CHRISTMAS PUDDING
The recipe will make two 1kg puddings.
Ingredients as follows
- 250g raisins
- 250g currants
- 185g sultanas
- 150g mixed peel
- 250g suet or vegetarian suet
- 250g breadcrumbs
- 90g flour
- 12g mixed spice
- 2 whole eggs
- 180g demerara sugar
- 275ml beer
- 40ml dark rum
- 40ml brandy
If you don’t want to use alcohol, you can substitute for orange juice or cold tea.
METHOD
1. Combine all dry ingredients
2. Stir
3. Add eggs and liquid
4. Stir it all up
5. Grease your pudding basin
6. Press base mix into the basin
7. Cover with a circle of parchment paper
8. Cover basins with a muslin cloth or foil and place puddings deep in a saucepan
9. Fill water to 3/4 of the pudding basin height
10. Cover with foil
11. Steam for six hours, refilling with water if necessary
12 . Once cooled, wrap puddings well and keep in a cool dry place until Christmas
13. On Christmas Day, reheat your pudding in a bain-marie for 3-4 hours. Remove from the basin using a rounded knife or palette knife, flip out onto a plate, garnish or flambé and serve with brandy sauce and cream.
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'This year, chefs in the Royal kitchens have shared their recipe for a traditional Christmas pudding. We hope that some of you enjoy making it in your own homes'.
The royal family's recipe follows the traditional superstition to make the pudding with 13 ingredients to represent Christ and the 12 apostles.
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Beer was traditionally used in a Christmas pudding, which emerged from a porridge dish called frumenty.
But in thelate 16th century, frumenty slowly changed into a plum pudding and was thickened with dried fruits, breadcrumbs, and eggs with spirits and beer added for flavour.
The royal family's recipe follows the traditional superstition to make the pudding with 13 ingredients to represent Christ and the 12 apostles. They started by adding together all dry ingredients and stirring them up
Speaking to the Telegraph, Chef Richard Corrigan, said he was surprised by the addition of beer, preferring port and brandy instead.
He added that butter is preferable to suet as it's richer.
'Up the booze by 20 per cent. Add 200g of grated carrots, yes you heard me, it's brilliant, and 250g of prunes,' he said.
Next they add the liquid ingredients (left) before mixing together and greasing the pan (right)
MeanwhileJames Cochran, head chef at London restaurant 12:51, told the publication he was 'intrigued' by the use of beer.
'So unexpected in a royal pudding! But that leads me to think that they would enjoy my own personal take on a classic with inspiration from St Vincent in the Caribbean.
'Mine uses tropical dried fruit of pineapple, coconut, mango and sultanas and I like to feed the fruit with a caramelly based rum like Merser rum. I think with her penchant for the Caribbean, Princess Margaret would have loved this version.'
Next the chefs coverwith a circle of parchment paper and then cover basins with a muslin cloth or foil and place puddings deep in a saucepan
Stir Up Sunday is a centuries-old tradition, marking the date when most families make their traditional Christmas puddings and cakes.
These festive treats get better with age, and should be matured for at least one month before Christmas, which is why cooks make the desserts on the last Sunday of November.
The tradition states that every member of the family stirs the mixture, making a Christmas wish as they do so.
The 11th step sees chefs steam for six hours, refilling with water if necessary before putting it aside until Christmas
Last year, the royal family shared sweet images of the Queen, Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince George making Christmas pudding together.
The puddings were mixed for the Royal British Legion's Together at Christmas initiative, which aims to provide extra support to the Armed Forces community at annual festive 'get-togethers' across the charity's network, both at home and abroad.
Taking to Instagram to comment on the recipe yesterday fans were very enthusiastic about the recipe.
Last year, the royal family shared sweet images of the Queen, Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince George making Christmas pudding together.
'That's cool that your lending out your precious recipe to everyone. What a lovely Christmas gift to all Thank you,' said one.
'I made my Christmas cake back in September, and have been feeding it brandy every week or two, to get it nice and ready for Christmas,' added another.
'Wonderful,' commented a third.
'Thanks for sharing the recipe! I'm Italian and I've always wanted to prepare it,' a fifth penned.
