Best Hard Sauce For Holiday Steamed Pudding Recipes

OLD-FASHIONED PLUM PUDDING AND HARD SAUCE

Steps:

• Generously grease 1-quart mold or ovenproof glass bowl; line with double thickness of cheesecloth.
• Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup; level off. In large bowl, combine flour, ginger, salt, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice; mix well.
• With pastry blender or 2 knives, cut in 1/2 cup butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add raisins, prunes, almonds and fruit peel; toss until fruit is well coated with flour mixture. Add bread crumbs and brown sugar; mix well. Stir in brandy and eggs; mix well. (Mixture will be very thick and almost crumbly.)
• Spoon mixture into greased and lined mold, packing firmly with back of spoon as mold is filled. Cover tightly with lid or heavy-duty foil; tie foil in place, if necessary.
• Place rack in bottom of Dutch oven or 6-quart saucepan. Add water until it reaches top of rack. Bring to a boil. Set mold on rack; carefully pour hot water around mold until about half way up mold. Return to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cover Dutch oven. Simmer 2 1/2 to 2 3/4 hours or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Add boiling water as needed.
• Meanwhile, in small bowl, combine all hard sauce ingredients; beat until smooth. Line 10-oz. custard cup or decorative mold with plastic wrap. Spoon hard sauce mixture into lined cup. Cover; refrigerate until serving time.
• Remove pudding from Dutch oven; cool in mold for 1 1/2 hours. Turn out of mold; carefully remove cheesecloth. Place on serving plate. Unmold hard sauce onto small plate; remove plastic wrap. Top each slice of pudding with small slice of hard sauce.

STEAMED CHOCOLATE PUDDING & HARD SAUCE

Steps:

• hard Sauce: Chill and serve on top of steamy pudding.
• Cream butter with sugar and egg.
• Mix all dry ingredients and add to butter mixture.
• Add melted chocolate.
• Pour into greased pudding mold.
• Steam in simmering water for 2 1/2 hours.
• This can be done by filling a large casserole with water, enough to go 1/2 height of the mold.

NANNY'S STEAMED CRANBERRY PUDDING

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix together 2 cups flour, baking soda, 1 cup of white sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Stir in the milk, egg, and butter until well blended. Toss the cranberries in the remaining 1/4 cup of flour to coat, then fold them into the batter.
• Pour the batter into a greased round casserole dish with a lid, place the lid on, and then cover again with aluminum foil. Place the dish into a large roaster or stock pot, and fill with 3 to 4 inches of water. Place the lid on the outer pot, and cover with aluminum foil. Turn the heat to medium-high, and steam for 2 hours. Add more water if necessary after the first hour.
• For the sauce, mix together 1/2 cup of white sugar, brown sugar, butter, and heavy cream in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook and stir occasionally until the mixture comes to a full boil. Boil for 1 minute, then remove from heat and stir in the vanilla. Refrigerate until chilled, then beat with an electric mixer until smooth.
• Serve slices of the steamed pudding with the brown sugar sauce, and a dollop of whipped cream.

HARD SAUCE FOR HOLIDAY STEAMED PUDDING

Steps:

• Cream all ingredients together and beat until fluffy.
• It takes only a few minutes to make if butter is room temperature.