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Stir Up Sunday is this Weekend

downtonabbeycooks · November 21, 2024 ·

Stir Up Sunday traces its roots to Victorian England, emerging from a Church of England liturgical tradition on the last Sunday before Advent. Initially a religious observance referencing a prayer beginning “Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord,” it evolved into a cherished family culinary ritual marking the beginning of Christmas preparations.

Families would gather in kitchens across Britain, each member taking a turn stirring the pudding mixture—traditionally making a wish with each turn. This communal activity wasn’t just about creating desserts but weaving together generations through shared culinary traditions. Three quintessential dishes became central to this practice: Christmas pudding, fruitcake, and mincemeat.

These rich, complex dishes demand time and patience. Christmas pudding ingredients were meticulously chosen: dried fruits symbolized abundance, spices represented wealth and exotic travels, and alcohol preserved the dessert. Traditionally, thirteen ingredients were used, representing Jesus and his twelve apostles. Their magic lies in aging—a process where flavours intensify and meld over weeks or months. Dried fruits soaked in brandy, suet, spices, and carefully selected ingredients transform into intensely flavorful delicacies that capture the essence of British holiday cooking.

This weekend presents the perfect opportunity to continue this delicious tradition. Gather your family, collect your ingredients—suet, dried fruits, spirits, spices—and prepare to create edible memories that will grace your Christmas table. The journey of making these dishes is as important as the final, delectable result.

Ingredients

  • Suet (traditional beef or vegetable suet)
  • Dried fruits (raisins, currants, candied peel, glacé cherries)
  • Breadcrumbs
  • Dark brown sugar
  • Eggs
  • Brandy or rum
  • Flour
  • Spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice)
  • Treacle or molasses

Aging Benefits:

  • Allows flavours to meld and intensify
  • Develops deeper, richer taste profile
  • Improves texture
  • Enhances preservation through alcohol content

Essential Tools for Pudding:

  • Large mixing bowls
  • Wooden spoons
  • Kitchen scale
  • Pudding basins
  • Pudding Bowl
  • Steaming basin
  • Pudding/cheesecloth
  • Large pot
  • Kitchen twine
  • Aluminum foil
  • Parchment paper

Aging Recommendations:


  • Store in a cool, dark place
  • Use airtight containers
  • Periodically add extra alcohol to maintain moisture
  • Minimum aging: 4-6 weeks
  • Optimal flavour development: 2-3 months before serving
The Sweet Taste of Figgy Pudding: A Festive Holiday Treat
Traditional Plum Pudding
Easy Peasy Mincemeat
Fabulous Light Fruitcake

Filed Under: Blog

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About me

I am Pamela Foster. Food historian. Wife. Downton and Gilded Age fan. Foodie.

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