This recipe comes from a dear friend and it is truly delicious and worth over-indulging in on Christmas Day.

Ingredients

• 3½ cups mixed dried fruit
• ½ cup Guinness or other dark beer
• ½ cup brandy
• grated rind and juice 1 orange
• grated rind 1 lemon
• 70 gram packet slivered almonds
• 1 apple, peeled and grated
• 1 large carrot, peeled and grated
• 2 tablespoons marmalade
• 2 teaspoons mixed spice
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 cup flour
• 125 grams Shreddo or butter, grated
• 1 cup fresh white breadcrumbs
• 3 eggs, beaten

Method

1. In one large bowl put the mixed dried fruit, Guinness or dark beer, brandy, orange rind and juice, lemon rind, almonds, apple, carrot, marmalade, mixed spice, nutmeg and cinnamon. Stir well, cover and leave to stand overnight.
2. Turn the slow cooker on to pre-warm while mixing the pudding ingredients together. Lightly grease an 8-cup capacity pudding bowl.
3. In a second large bowl, put the flour, Shreddo or butter and breadcrumbs and stir to mix evenly. Make a well in the centre.
4. Add the fruit and eggs to the dry ingredients and stir just until combined.
5. Transfer the mixture to the prepared bowl. Cover with two layers of baking paper and secure tightly with string. Cover with a layer of foil and secure with string.
6. Put an upturned saucer in the base of the pre-warmed slow cooker. Sit the pudding on top of the saucer. Pour about 2 cups of boiling water into the slow cooker. The water needs to come halfway up the sides of the pudding bowl. Cover with the lid.
7. Cook on high for 5-7 hours.
8. Turn the pudding out onto a serving platter. Serve thick slices with a generous spoonful of hard brandy butter sauce (see recipe on our website).

Cooks Tips

- If you do not have a pudding bowl, the pudding can be cooked in an oven bag. To do this, grease the inside of a large oven or roasting bag. Pile the mixture into the bag and mould into a cannon-ball shape. Tie the top securely with string, leaving a little room at the top for the pudding to expand. Sit the pudding in a colander and place into the slow cooker. Fill with water and cook as described.