Prepping for the Holidays — Cakes and Puddings

As mentioned in my article Prepping for the Holidays — McVitie’s Madness, we’re heading into a time of year that can be downright frantic. Avoid the rush by a bit of advance prep-work. You can also resort to something store-bought versus homemade when it comes to such traditional treats as holiday cakes and puddings.

Auntys Sticky Toffee Pudding (Photo source: The English Tea Store)

From Spotted Dick to Toffee Pudding and fruit cakes, ’tis the season for a bit of extra indulgence. But you’re working a job, driving the kids to dance class and sports practice, shopping for those once-a-year gifts for distant relatives, or trying to get a little “me time” when you can. Pre-made British-style cakes and puddings can serve several purposes:

Save you time that can be used on other events
Make fairly easy gifts for folks on your list that you have no idea what to get or for the hostess of the many parties you’ll be attending
Bring a taste of British cuisine and tradition to your table

I’m a glutton for Aunty’s Chocolate Fudge Steamed Pudding and have been pleased to receive some as a gift as well as ordering more once hubby and I had gobbled it all up, so I know that such things are usually quite welcome. Just be sure the giftee is not allergic to things like wheat gluten or soy or — horrors! — chocolate!

Here are some great options:

Heinz Treacle Sponge Pudding — a canned pudding containing treacle (uncrystallized syrup produced when refining sugar) sauce, water, wheat flour, sugar, golden syrup, vegetable oil, hydrogenated vegetable oil, breadcrumbs, raising agents, milk proteins, salt, dried whey — can be heated in the microwave.
Auntys Sticky Toffee Pudding — a traditional steamed sponge with dates smothered in a delicious toffee sauce.
Auntys Golden Syrup Pudding — a traditionally steamed moist sponge smothered in a delicious golden syrup sauce.
Bronte Cherry Walnut Fruit Cake — a rich cake with cherries and walnuts.
Bronte Dark Genoa Cake — a rich, dark fruit cake containing sultanas and cherries.
Bronte Stem Ginger Fruit Cake — a rich cake containing sultanas, stem ginger and citrus peel.

As the holidays draw nearer, even more options will become available, so be on the lookout!

© Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog, 2009-2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this article’s author and/or the blog’s owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.