Combine dried fruit, prunes, tea, lemon rind, juice and spices in a saucepan. Simmer for 3 minutes. Cool. Transfer to a bowl. Add brandy. Cover. Stand overnight. Combine flour, sugar, breadcrumbs and ...

Cream butter and sugar together. Add beaten eggs and milk. Prepare and chop fruit. Pour over 6 tablespoons of brandy. Add sifted flour, then salt, spices and breadcrumbs. Mix thoroughly together.

One could write a treatise on the evolution of plum pudding from medieval kitchens to the present and never run out of information. And I'm sure someone has done it. Recipes for plum pudding abound.

Plums mark the moment that summer turns to autumn, lending their sweetness to puddings and main meals alike. Try them on toast with chilli and labneh or in this frangipane tart with star anise ...