This recipe adapted from Eliza Acton's Modern Cookery is a true Victorian classic and calls for all the typical ingredients like suet, apples, currants, raisins, breadcrumbs, mixed spice, and brandy, to name a few. It also gives instructions on how to make a molded Christmas pudding and a cannonball-shaped one if you want to go hard-core traditional. The traditional Christmas pudding has mixed spice as one of its ingredients, so if mixed spice is unavailable in your area, check out our "cooking tips" section to learn how to make mixed spice.

This is the British Royal family's official Christmas pudding recipe and makes for two puddings. It's a variant loaded with sultanas, currants, raisins, and mixed peel but also a boozy affair, thanks to the addition of beer, brandy, and dark rum. However, for those that would like to skip alcohol, orange juice and tea can be used instead. For a more festive spirit, it is recommended to garnish the puddings with holly and light them. If you need instructions on making mixed spice and a substitute for mixed peel, check out our "cooking tips" section.