We hope you enjoyed trying out some baking with real Devon flavour with our first Recipe of the Month last time.  This time, we thought we'd go with something a little more unusual, by trying Exeter Pudding.

baking

Exeter Pudding is something of an enigma even here in Devon!  Nobody seems to have a definite answer on the origin of this dessert, and there are so many varieties.  Happily, this means that this dessert may be tailored to your own preference and even the contents of your cupboard.

Ingredients  (to serve 6)

  • 6 Trifle sponges
  • 150g/5 oz Breadcrumbs
  • 50g/2 oz Ratafia Biscuits (similar to italian amaretti)
  • 75g/3 oz Butter
  • 25g/1 oz Plain Flour
  • 3 Medium Eggs
  • 75g/3 oz Caster Sugar
  • 150g Clotted Cream
  • Grated rind of one lemon
  • 45ml/3 tablespoons Dark Rum
  • 450g/1 lb Fruit Jam
  • 1 extra tablespoon of fresh white breadcrumbs
Method
  1. Mix the 125g of breadcrumbs with the flour, sugar and the grated rind of the lemon in a big bowl.
  2. Add the butter and cream, and rub it in to the mix.
  3. Lightly grease a pudding basin, about 25cm/10 ins in diameter
  4. Coat the butter with the extra tablespoon of fresh breadcrumbs, then cover the bottom of the bowl with the Ratafia biscuits.
  5. Put a layer of the prepared breadcrumb mixture over the Ratafias.
  6. Spread some of your chosen jam onto the sponge cakes, then place these on as the next layer
  7. Continue to build in this way, alternating until all the ingredients have been used.
  8. The top layer should be the breadcrumb mixture. Heat the oven to 360°F/180°C/Gas 4.
  9. Drizzle the rum evenly over the top and cook in the pre-heated oven for an hour.
  • For traditionalists, replace the butter and cream for suet and sago, which makes a more weighty, wintery pudding.
  • Serve warm, or piping hot with a generous helping of custard or clotted cream.
We recommend Langage Farm Clotted Cream for a superior taste of authentic Devon and a thicker consistency, but double cream can be used as a substitute.
You can use any jam you like to suit yourself, but we like The Scone Company's Strawberry!
We hope you enjoy making your very own Exeter Pudding, and put your own stamp on it with the different variations it is renowned for.  We'd love to hear how you made yours.  Let us know by leaving a comment below, or catching up with us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ or Pinterest.


Post By Sadie

Sadie Woolcock

Safe and secure payment with Paypal
Good Housekeeping Institute Taste Approved 202 Food Drink Devon Best Online Retailer 2024/25 Food Drink Devon Gold 2024/25 Food Drink Devon Gold 2021/22 Foot Drink Devon Member Made in Devon, Trading Standards Approved Children's Hospice South West Taste of the West Finalist 2023-2024 Taste of the West Gold 2024 Taste of the West Gold 2022 Taste of the West Gold 2016 Taste of the West Gold 2015 Taste of the West Gold 2014 Taste of the West winner 2014