Spotted Dick
[British Kitchen] The Uniquely Named Dessert: Spotted Dick Recipe
Spotted Dick is a classic British dessert, named for the dried fruits (‘spots’) dotted throughout its sponge-like texture. It’s a comforting treat that even made an appearance in the Harry Potter books! Often served with custard sauce, it was a popular school cafeteria item. Enjoy this moist and sweet steamed pudding, enhanced with raisins or dried cranberries.
Ingredients
- 125g all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 125g unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 125g granulated sugar
- 1 pinch of salt
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 50g dried fruit (traditionally currants, but raisins or dried cranberries work well)
- 1 Tbsp lemon zest (optional)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Before you begin, let’s prepare a couple of things. First, chop the 50g of dried fruit into bite-sized pieces. Soak them in hot water or 1 Tbsp of rum for about 10 minutes until plump. The lemon zest (the yellow part of the lemon peel, finely grated) is an optional ingredient for added fragrance; if you’re using it, prepare 1 Tbsp.
Step 2
In a mixing bowl, place the 125g of softened butter. Cream it until smooth using a hand mixer or whisk. Add the 125g of sugar and a pinch of salt, and beat until well combined and the sugar is mostly dissolved. Next, add the 2 room-temperature eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition to ensure they are fully incorporated and the mixture doesn’t curdle. It’s important to mix thoroughly after adding each egg.
Step 3
In a separate bowl, sift together the 125g of all-purpose flour, 1 tsp of baking powder, and 1 tsp of ground cinnamon. Sift them at least 2-3 times. This helps to aerate the flour, prevent lumps, and ensures the dry ingredients are evenly distributed, leading to a lighter texture for your pudding. Whisk the sifted dry ingredients gently to combine.
Step 4
Add the sifted dry ingredients to the creamed butter mixture. Fold in the soaked dried fruit (50g) and the optional lemon zest (1 Tbsp). Mix gently with a spatula until just combined and no dry streaks of flour remain. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the pudding tough. Grease your steaming mold or oven-safe dish thoroughly with butter to prevent sticking. Fill the mold with the batter, leaving about 60-70% of the space empty, as the pudding will rise during steaming.
Step 5
Now, it’s time to steam your Spotted Dick! There are two main methods. Method 1: Place your filled mold into a larger oven-safe dish. Pour hot water into the larger dish, surrounding the mold. Cover the mold tightly (with a lid or foil) and bake in a preheated oven at 200°C (400°F) for approximately 25-40 minutes. Method 2: Use a stovetop steamer. Bring water to a boil in a pot, place the filled mold inside (on a rack or trivet), cover the pot, and steam for about 25-40 minutes. You can check for doneness by inserting a skewer into the center; if it comes out clean, the pudding is ready.
