How to Serve Christmas Pudding

Christmas pudding is a popular dish in England around the holidays. Many people are surprised to find out that it isn't pudding at all. It is actually a moist, cake-like sweet bread, filled with nuts, raisins and other dried fruit. There are many variations on how to make Christmas pudding and how to serve it.

Instructions

1. Let the Christmas pudding cool completely on a wire rack before serving. Otherwise the "pudding" will crumble and fall apart.

2. Trim off the ends off the Christmas pudding and set aside. It is usually a bit too dry to serve to guests.

3. Cut the rest of the Christmas pudding into even slices and place on a serving platter.

4. Pour a warm custard sauce over the slices of Christmas pudding.

5. Garnish with some fresh mint leaves for complementing color and some dried cherries for a splash of red.

6. Serve immediately to guests with coffee, eggnog or holiday tea.

Tips & Warnings

• Serve the Christmas pudding on individual dessert plates with the custard sauce.

• Swap the warm custard sauce for chilled custard. Scoop a dollop of custard on top of a slice of Christmas pudding. You also can substitute French vanilla or eggnog flavored ice cream.