This Wintry Summer Pudding celebrates the best of both seasons by pairing frozen summer berries with warming wintry spices. And it tastes just as good as it looks!
Before I share todays recipe with you, I wanted to let you know that this little food blog turns 9 today :)
In blog terms, that makes hedgecombers.com a granny. Or even a great granny! I never would have imagined the adventure writing that first post would eventually lead to, or that blogging would one day become my job!
Huge thanks to all my long term readers, I appreciate you more than you’ll ever know :)
Wintry Summer Pudding
In other news we’re getting all loved up here today!
Valentines Day is fast approaching and Iceland asked me to come up with a smooch-worthy dessert using their frozen fruit. Being that it’s still the middle of winter I couldn’t quite bring myself to make an ice cream or sorbet. I wanted to make something that was warming and comforting without being heavy or stodgy. You know, just in case you were whisked out dancing after dinner…
To highlight one of the many reasons I am shopping more & more at Iceland, I decided to create a recipe around a bag of Iceland’s red fruit summer berries. In the bag you’ll find a good mix of raspberries, blackberries, redcurrants and blackcurrants. The berries will have been picked and frozen at the height of the growing season. This means that not only will they be perfectly ripe, but also bursting full of flavour, vitamins and antioxidants. That’s the #PowerOfFrozen at work right there.
To delight in the fact that I can enjoy summer berries in February, I decided to pair them with a warming blend of winter spices. Think cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. Think yum.
Wintry Summer Pudding
- A pudding basin or smallish bowl my pudding basin measured 5.5 inches across the top and was 4 inches high
- 3-5 slices of medium cut white bread
- 500 g bag of frozen mixed red fruit or summer berry mix
- 80 g sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ginger
- Generous scraping of nutmeg
- 25 ml creme de cassis or cherry brandy optional
- Grating of dark chocolate to serve
- Line the pudding basin with cling film.
- Cut the crusts off the bread and fully line the bowl with bread. Start with a disc at the bottom then build up the sides. Small overlaps are good, gaps are bad ;)
- In a small pan gently heat the fruit to defrost and let some of the juices flow. You don't want to boil it or turn it to a puree. Aim for the majority of the fruit to still be plump and plenty of juice in the bottom of the pan. If some berries are still a little frozen don't worry, they'll defrost fully in the fridge.
- Mix through the spices and alcohol if using.
- Pour the spiced fruit through a sieve, catching the juices in a bowl blow.
- Dismantle your slices of bread and carefully soak each one in the fruit juices. Rebuild the bowl with the juicy bread lining.
- Tip in the fruit. Cover with another slice of bread, cutting it to fit. Pour any leftover juiced over the last slice.
- Fold the cling film over the top of the pudding and pop in the fridge, preferably overnight.
- To serve unpeel the cling film. Pop a small plate on top of the pudding basin and flip over.
- Tug gently on the cling film to dislodge the pudding onto the plate.
- Sprinkle with a little grated dark chocolate and top with a min firework if the feeling grabs you :)
So there we have it, my romantic nod to a tastier Valentine’s day! Huge thanks to Iceland for sponsoring this recipe and allowing me to continue to bring you tasty recipes, for free. As always all thoughts, and leftovers, are my own! (Although I guess I should probably share my leftover with Jonny just this once…)
Big love friends, and I hope you have a wonderful Valentine’s day, whoever you choose to share it with <3
Jane x
recipesfromapantry says
You are totally allowed to have the leftovers by yourself. I would. What a lush pudding Madam.
Jane Sarchet says
Haha, you old romantic you! :)
Jane x
happyhealthymotivated says
What a beautiful colour cake! So perfect for Valentine’s Day. And huge congrats on your blogging bday!
Jane Sarchet says
Thanks so much! Happy V day :)
Jane x
helene dsouza says
Oh my Jane, I didn’t know! Happy bloganniveray! =D
9 years is really a lot. time is flying by so fast, no?
I remember when I discovered Hedge Combers a few years, it has been a very pleasant read all the while. Today you are treating us with an amazing pudding too, I wish I could have a bite right now.
Thank you for having created your blog and for always sharing amazing recipes! xox
Jane Sarchet says
Hi Helene, and thank you sweet lady!
The pudding is quite fitting of a 9th birthday, don’t you think :)
Jane x
Meeta says
What a show stopper. Love the Brtish kind of puddings and this is so festive looking!
Jane Sarchet says
Thank you Meeta :)
Jane x
April J Harris (@apriljharris) says
Congratulations on 9 years! It’s nice to find someone who has been around a long time too – believe it or not I’ve been blogging since 2002!I love using frozen fruits and vegetables this time of year and Iceland have such a great selection. Your Wintry Summer Pudding is such a lovely idea – it looks gorgeous and sounds scrumptious!
Jane Sarchet says
Hey April! Were computers even invented in 2002??! :D
Thanks so much for your kind words, here’s to the next 15 years!
Jane x
Tara says
Happy Blogiversary! And congratulations on 9 years! This pudding looks beautiful. I love the color and presentation.
Jane Sarchet says
Thanks so much Tara :)
Jane x
Kate Veggie Desserts (@veggie_desserts) says
Happy 9th blog birthday!!! That deserves a major celebration. I love the wintery summer pudding idea. The fruit looks so lush and I love how frozen fruit means you can have them at their finest even on a cold and rainy February day.
Jane Sarchet says
Exactly Kate! Seasonal foods can be enjoyed all year round using the simplest form of preserving – the #poweroffrozen :)
Jane x
shashi at runninsrilankan says
Wow – this Wintry Summer pudding is simply spectacular! And – perfect for that red-themed holiday coming up tomorrow! Oh, and happy 9-Year Blogiversary – wishing you many more years of success blogging!
Jane Sarchet says
Aww, thanks so much Shashi :)
Jane x
Dannii says
Happy blog birthday! Here is to many more years. This is such a beautiful pudding and a great way to celebrate.
Jane Sarchet says
Thanks so much Dannii :)
Jane x
Platter Talk says
Happy 9 year Blogiversary. Thanks for providing a Valentine’s Day dessert that runs on the healthy side of the street!
Amy says
Wow, 9 years, what a goal to aspire to! This pudding has such a fabulous color and I love the fun celebratory touch with the sparkler. Best wishes to you for the next 9 years of blogging.
Jane Sarchet says
Thanks so much Any!
Jane x
sue | theviewfromgreatisland says
What a glorious Valentine’s Day dessert, those berries sound amazing!
Claire Jessiman (@foodiequine) says
Happy Bloggy Birthday! I’m but a youngster in comparison. I should get my OH to make this at the weekend – I didn’t even get a card!
Jane Sarchet says
Thanks claire :) But, didn’t he take you to Iceland (the country) for Valentines? :)
Jane x