For a something a little different to your usual Christmas pudding try this deliciously fruity beetroot, raisin and ginger pud. Packed with the same festive flavours and spices, this warm and comforting dessert is great for those long Winter nights.

Serves 6

Preparation Time: 15 mins

Cooking Time: 3 hours

What you’ll need:

1 ½ pint pudding basin, well greased with butter, baking paper, string and tin foil

For the pudding

• 3tbsp golden syrup
• 100g vegetable suet
• 80g dark brown sugar
• 100g raisins
• 50g self raising flour
• 1tsp ground mixed spice
• 125g plain cooked (vacuum packed) beetroot, drained
• 3 eggs
• 100g stem ginger, finely chopped

To serve

• crème fraiche or vanilla ice cream

What to do:

1. Pour the golden syrup into the greased pudding basin and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, mix the suet, sugar, raisins, breadcrumbs, flour and mixed spice.
3. Puree the beetroot in a food processor, add the eggs and blend together well. Pour into the mixing bowl, along with the stem ginger, and stir thoroughly.
4. Pour the mix into the pudding basin and pat well down with the back of a spoon. Cover with a layer of baking paper and tie securely with string, then cover with a double layer of foil.
5. Carefully lower the pudding into a large pan of hot water, ensuring the water comes no further than half way up the basin. Cover with a lid and simmer gently for 3 hours, checking every now and then that there is plenty of water in the pan, topping up if necessary.
6. Carefully take the pudding out of the pan, remove the foil and greaseproof and invert onto a serving plate.

Serve with custard, crème fraiche or vanilla ice cream.

For more recipes visit www.lovebeetroot.co.uk