Easy Spotted Dick

spotted dick with vanilla custard on a beige plate on a beige napkin with a spoon with custard on the side

Easy Spotted Dick is a traditional British pudding, lemon flavoured suet sponge studded with currants. It's usually steamed and served with custard or vanilla ice cream for an all round classic family favourite comfort food,

Course Dessert

Cuisine English

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 4

Total Time 4 10

Servings

Calories 432kcal

Equipment

Digital Scales
Measuring Jug
Large Mixing Bowl
Wooden spoon
2 pint pudding bowl 1.2litre
slow cooker
kettle
medium bowl
zester
Sieve
serving plate

Ingredients

250 grams self raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
100 grams caster sugar
100 grams vegetarian suet
¼ tsp salt
150 grams dried currants
1 tsp vanilla extract
zest small lemon
150/175 ml milk

Instructions

Boil the kettle and fill up your slow cooker about halfway with boiled water. Switch the slow cooker to High and put the lid on.
Reserve 200 ml or so of the hot water to pour over the currants in a bowl and leave them for about 5 minutes to soak before draining.
Add all the ingredients into a large mixing bowl. Just the 150 mls of milk leaving 25 ml to add if the mixture is not wet enough.
Mix until the mixture is of a soft dropping consistency. Add a splash of extra milk if needed to get the consistency right.
Grease your pudding bowl, I use a baking spray but you can just smear a knob of butter all round the bowl with some kitchen paper.
Spoon the mixture into the bowl and smooth over.
Top with the lid and carefully place in the slow cooker. If you are using a traditional ceramic pudding bowl then see here for how to wrap the bowl for steaming
Cook for 4 hours. You can steam in a saucepan too if you prefer for 1 and a half hours see link above.
Carefully remove the pudding pot with oven gloves and invert onto your serving dish.
Cut into triangle wedges and serve with vanilla custard or ice cream

Notes

Cover and keep leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days

You can reheat leftover wedges in the microwave. I do it for 20 seconds first before carefully checking it's hot enough.

You can also freeze the leftover wedges for up to 3 months in freezer bags or probably better in a stout plastic container. Thaw covered in the fridge or at room temperature.
Vary the zestiness and use lime or orange zest
You could add in chocolate chips

If you want to leave out the vanilla extract then do, I'm just a vanilla fan

Don't lift the lid on the slow cooker as it will slow down the cooking time

If you are steaming the pudding in a saucepan then it will take 1 and a half hours at a gentle simmer. Keep a check on the water levels in the saucepan to make sure that it does not run low.

Nutrition