How to Make Figgy Pudding

We all know that Christmas carol "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" where there's that verse about "so bring us some figgy pudding." Well, just what is it that they're singing about? If you've ever wanted to find out, or to throw a seriously old-fashioned Christmas caroling party, here's a recipe for an authentic figgy pudding.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• ½ cup butter (1 stick)
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup molasses
• 2 cups figs, finely chopped
• ½ cup walnut pieces, broken
• ½ tsp. grated lemon rind
• ½ tsp. baking soda
• 1 cup sour milk
• 2½ cups flour
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• ½ tsp. nutmeg
• 9-inch tube pan, lightly greased
• Hard sauce or vanilla ice cream, if desired

1. Beat the butter until it is soft. Beat in the eggs and molasses until the mixture is light and fluffy.
2. Stir in the chopped figs and broken walnuts. Sprinkle in the grated lemon rind and mix it into the batter.
3. Combine the baking soda and sour milk. Stir this mixture into the batter.
4. Measure 2½ cups flour. Sift the flour with the baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.
5. Stir the dry ingredients into the batter. Pour the batter into the greased tube pan.
6. Bake the pudding at 325 degrees for an hour. Serve it hot, and ladle on the hard sauce if you want a really authentic figgy pudding experience. If you prefer, though, you may try it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Tips & Warnings

• You may add ½ tsp. ginger to the recipe or use 1 tsp. ginger in place of the cinnamon and nutmeg.
• Eggnog ice cream is also very good with this pudding.