This famous traditional English dessert is irresistibly delicious and is sure to win you over!
Prep time: PT20M
Cook time: PT180M
Total time: PT200M
Rating
4.98 stars (128 reviews)
Keywords
Spotted Dick
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
5 ounces shredded beef suet ((highly recommended for best results, but can substitute 10 tablespoons chilled butter, diced))
2/3 cup caster sugar or regular granulated sugar (, see NOTE)
1 cup dried currants
3/4 cup milk
2 teaspoons quality vanilla extract
Zest of one large lemon
English Custard Sauce for serving ((click link for recipe))
Categories
Dessert
Cuisine
english
Steps
Place metal cookie cutters, a folded towel, or crumpled tin foil in the bottom of a large stock pot to prevent the pudding mold from touching the bottom of the pot. Add water and bring to a boil. Generously grease a 1.6 liter pudding mold..
Place the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and suet (or butter) in a food processor and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse sand. Transfer the mixture to a large mixing bowl.
Add the milk, lemon zest, vanilla extract and currants and stir until combined. Scoop the batter into the prepared pudding mold and secure it tightly with the lid.
Lower the pudding mold into the boiling water so that the water comes up to the halfway point of the pudding mold. Reduce the heat to a simmer and simmer undisturbed for 3-4 hours if using suet (it has a very high melting point and needs that amount of time to melt and create the "pockets" throughout the pudding that yields the characteristic light/spongy texture associated with suet-based puddings) or about 90 minutes if using butter. You'll likely need to weight the pudding mold down with something heavy to keep it from bobbing up and down in the water. I use a plate and then put something heavy on top of it, like another bowl. Check the water level periodically and add more water as needed to keep it at the halfway point of the pudding tin.
Remove the pudding mold from the water and let it sit for 15 minutes. Invert the pudding onto a plate. Slice into wedges and serve warm with Vanilla Custard. See NOTE about reheating.
Nutitrion
Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 498 kcal
Carbohydrates: 74 g
Protein: 6 g
Fat: 20 g
Saturated Fat: 12 g
Cholesterol: 53 mg
Sodium: 282 mg
Sugar: 40 g
Reviews
Peter on 2026-06-27 (5 stars): Great recipe! Since Atora shredded suet comes in a 200g package (~7oz), I scaled everything by x1.4 to make 40% more pudding. This actually fits perfectly in the 1.6 liter Mrs. Anderson's Baking Non-Stick Steamed Pudding Mold with Lid that you linked above.
Also, after making it once with zante currant raisins, I decided to try freeze-dried raspberries (as opposed to fresh, these don't add moisture and retain their structure when mixing). Turned out delicious, though admittedly less traditional.
Dinah on 2026-05-03 (5 stars): Great recipe to follow & adapt to the ingredients in your store cupboard. Pudding tastes Devine
Kim Nota on 2026-04-26 (3 stars): I like your recipes, especially the pfeffernusse. I made the spotted dick per the recipe then again with a few minor changes. I used Atora beef suet both times.
The 1st time I let it steam for 3.5 hours, it was somewhat dry.
The changes I made was NOT to use a food processor. It's unnecessary. I just mixed everything in a bowl. Only steam it for 2 hours. It came out so much moister and delicious. I also added tsp of cinnamon and 1/4 tsp of nutmeg and no citrus. Alot tastier to me.
the spotted dick gobbler on 2025-08-14 (5 stars): i like eating spotted dick
Renee on 2025-07-11 (5 stars): This was absolutely delicious! I wasn't entirely sure what to expect because I've only ever had the tinned stuff, sorry to say. This was easier than expected and the results were perfect. I made your vanilla custard to go with it. This won't be the last time I make it!
