This Pumpkin Steamed Sponge Pudding is such a comforting dessert. It's easier to make than you think and takes traditional steamed sponge pudding to another level. Combination of pumpkin and plum jam - it's an autumnal pud your family will love!
Steamed sponge pudding is such a fantastic British dessert. It's super easy to make and the only tough part is waiting for it to steam. The end result, however, is totally worth it! I've decided to take an autumnal spin on an old classic and that's how this Pumpkin Steamed Sponge Pudding was born. I thought that combination of pumpkin puree (check out my guide on how to make your Easy Homemade Pumpkin Puree), mixed spice and plum jam or conserve will be simply stunning. I was right!
Steamed sponge pudding - easier than you think!
Steamed sponge pudding is really easy to make! It may not be the quickest dessert out there and steaming process requires some supervision but preparation of the sponge batter itself couldn't be simpler. All you need is equal amount of self-raising flour, sugar, butter and eggs and the topping and flavourings of your choice. Bit of mixing, equipment prep and you're on your way to pudding heaven.
My favourite has always been super simple jam sponge pudding and this recipe is my take on it. With its autumnal flavours of pumpkin and plums, it really doesn't get any tastier. Feel free to use whatever plum jam or conserve you've got and if you fancy making your own then check out these tried and tested recipes from my blogging friends:
Plum & Apple Jam from Fab Food 4 All
Easy Plum Jam from Farmersgirl Kitchen
Damson Jam from Fab Food 4 All
Easy Greengage & Apple Jam from Farmersgirl Kitchen
If you are not a fan of plum jams and conserves you could try making your pudding with a nice dollop of my orange marmalade instead!
Equipment
To prepare your sponge batter hand mixer or standing mixer will come handy. You will also need:
- Pudding Basin* (minimum 1.2ltr or larger)
- Baking paper
- Aluminium foil
- String or a strong thread
- Large soup/stock pot* with tightly fitting lid
- Steamer rack*, trivet or small ceramic saucer
Pumpkin Steamed Sponge Pudding - preparation for steaming
When it comes to getting your pudding wrapped for steaming it's actually not that difficult. Once you've prepared your sponge batter and all is ready to go you will need rather large piece of baking paper and aluminium foil. Put foil on top of the paper and fold a large pleat in the middle of both which will allow pudding to expand as it steams. Lay both paper and foil on top of your basin and secure with a string or a strong thread. Make sure you tie it really well not to allow any water into the pudding basin itself. Done!
Steaming
The whole steaming process might seem a bit daunting at first but it really isn't. All you need is rather large pot with tightly fitting lid (I use my old trusty stock pot), some sort of steamer rack or trivet or simply a small ceramic saucer turned upside down. That's it! All you need to do now is to put your pudding basin on the steaming rack, and fill the pot with boiling water half way up the sides of the pudding basin. Don't forget to make a cuppa while you're at it! Pop the lid on, put the pot on a medium heat (which you turn down to low once water comes to boil again) and let it simmer for 2 hours. Check the water level now and again as it might need topping up.
One last thing you need is patience but that will be rewarded I promise!
It is so extremely satisfying to see your pud emerging from the basin after two hours of steaming. It looks really pretty and smells just divine! I think it is a perfect post Sunday lunch pud with compulsory lashings of cream or custard! I really hope you give this one a go.
How to make Pumpkin Steamed Pudding - Step-By-Step
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Start with generously buttering the pudding basin and add plum conserve to the bottom of the basin.
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Put flour, baking powder, mixed spice, softened butter and sugar in a large bowl and mix together with the hand mixer. You can also use your standing mixer with paddle attachment if you prefer. Start adding eggs one at a time and mix until incorporated. Don't overmix.
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Add pumpkin purée and mix until incorporated.
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Pour the sponge batter onto the pudding basin on top of the plum conserve.
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Cover the pudding basin with large piece of baking paper and aluminium foil and tie with a string to secure (see tips in the post above).
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Place a steamer rack or overturned saucer on the bottom of the large soup/stock pot and place your pudding basin on top. Fill the pot with boiling water half way up the side of the basin and cover with tight fitting lid.
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Steam for 2 hrs (initially on a medium heat which you turn down to low once water comes back to boil), topping up with some more boiling water along the way if necessary.
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After two hours check with the skewer as you would regular cake (pierce your pudding through the baking paper and foil). If the skewer comes out wet, keep steaming for another 20-25 min.
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When done, turn out onto a plate and serve immediately with lashings and lashings of custard or cream!
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Enjoy!
Pumpkin Steamed Sponge Pudding
Equipment
Ingredients
- 175 g self-raising flour see notes below
- 175 g light brown sugar
- 175 g unsalted butter softened
- 3 large eggs
- 200 g pumpkin purée tinned or homemade
- 4 tablespoon plum jam or conserve
- 1 teaspoon mixed spice
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
Instructions
- Start with generously buttering the pudding basin and add plum conserve to the bottom of the basin.
- Put flour, baking powder, mixed spice, softened butter and sugar in a large bowl and mix together with the hand mixer. You can also use your standing mixer with paddle attachment if you prefer. Start adding eggs one at a time and mix until incorporated. Don't overmix.
- Add pumpkin purée and mix until incorporated.
- Pour the sponge batter onto the pudding basin on top of the plum conserve.
- Cover the pudding basin with large piece of baking paper and aluminium foil and tie with a string to secure (see tips in the post above).
- Place a steamer rack or overturned saucer on the bottom of the large soup/stock pot and place your pudding basin on top. Fill the pot with boiling water half way up the side of the basin and cover with tight fitting lid.
- Steam for 2 hrs (initially on a medium heat which you turn down to low once water comes back to boil), topping up with some more boiling water along the way if necessary.
- After two hours check with the skewer as you would regular cake (pierce your pudding through the baking paper and foil). If the skewer comes out wet, keep steaming for another 20-25 min but if it comes out clean, your pudding is ready!
- When done, turn out onto a plate and serve immediately with lashings and lashings of custard or cream!
- Enjoy!
Notes
- Nutritional information is approximate, per serving and should be treated as a guideline only.
- If you don't have self-raising flour, simply make your own by adding 2 teaspoon baking powder to 175g of plain flour. Make sure you don't forget to add another teaspoon of baking powder as per recipe when using self-raising flour.
- Any leftovers can be store in airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days and reheated gently in the microwave before serving.
Nutrition
Update Notes: This post was originally published on 3 October 2017 and republished in October 2019 with more user friendly layout, updated recipe card, step by step instructions.
Some more autumnal bakes you might enjoy:
Best Buttery Apple Pie with a Twist
Italian Plum & Almond Cake with Amaretti Crunch
Pumpkin & Cinnamon Pull Apart Bread
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Linkies
The Great Bloggers Bake Off 2017 , Cook Blog Share with Everyday Healthy Recipes and Easy Peasy Foodie, Simple and in Season, Bake of the Week with CasaCostello and Jenny at MummyMishaps
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CAMILLA HAWKINS says
This looks like the perfect autumn pud, love the golden glow that the pumpkin gives to the sponge and paired with the plum jam on top I'm sitting here drooling as I type! Thank you for including my jam recipes:-)
joskitchenlarder says
Thank you Camilla! 🙂 Pumpkin and plums are such a delicious autumnal match. I'm hoping to give homemade plum jam a go before the season is over and your recipes will come super handy! 🙂
Terri says
I have never had steamed pudding and now it's definitely on my dessert bucket list - this sounds amazing!
joskitchenlarder says
Thanks Terri! 🙂 Enjoy, it's a good one!
Adrianne says
This pudding looks moist and delicious, yum!! I love the pumpkin and plum combination and that drizzle sauce all over it. Can't wait to try it, cheers!
joskitchenlarder says
Thank you Adrianne! 🙂 The beauty of steamed pudding is that it's really moist but we still pour lots of cream or custard over it (the beauty of British desserts). 🙂 I hope you like it!
David says
Fun to connect with bloggers from around the world to learn about foods I've never heard about. This looks like it came out so moist for you!
joskitchenlarder says
Hi David, It is indeed. 🙂 Steamed pud is super British for sure and what a fantastic pud it is indeed! 🙂
Krissy Allori says
Steamed pudding is a new one for me. This looks delicious. Pumpkin and plum sound perfect together.
joskitchenlarder says
Thank you Krissy! It's such a lovely and autumnal flavour combination!
Amy says
I've never had a steamed pudding before. This sounds amazing 🙂
joskitchenlarder says
Thanks Amy! Give it a go, it really is delicious especially this pumpkin one! 🙂
Katie Bryson says
I'm eating an apple while reading this post and wishing I was tucking into a bowl of your delicious steamed pud with lashings of custard - wow! Thanks for hooking up with this month's round of Simple and in Season. xxx
Angela / Only Crumbs Remain says
Ooh Jo! What are you doing to me! This sounds absololutely fabulously delicious. Love your top tips for steaming, and of course the sequence of pictures as you pour your custard! Yummy! Thankyou too for joining in with #BakingCrumbs 🙂
Angela x
joskitchenlarder says
Thank you! Pleasure to join in! 🙂 I really enjoyed making this pud. Waiting for it to steam was the difficult bit but got there in the end. 🙂 x
Rebecca Smith says
I will be making this as soon as I can...a few tweaks for my tummies sake's and jobs a goodun! The combo of flavours here is genius and I'm ALWAYS on the look out for more pumpkin recipes xx
joskitchenlarder says
Thanks so much Rebecca! 🙂 I'm so glad you like it. Pumpkin goes really well with mixed spice here for sure. Hope you enjoy it! xx
Lucy says
This is making me drool - I love pumpkin in desserts and am also partial to a steamed pudding! Love the colour of it. A perfect autumnal dessert, yum!
joskitchenlarder says
Thanks Lucy! 🙂 I thought the colour was really pretty too. Next time I will try and give it a go in a slow cooker. Will be popping over for some tips 🙂 x
Kat (The Baking Explorer) says
This looks stunning! I love the idea of mixing pumpkin and plum!
joskitchenlarder says
Thanks Kat! I was super pleased with this combination. Pumpkin and plums work so well together. x
jenny walters says
Wow Jo,what a stunner!Beautiful pics too.It sounds divine!Plum jam in a steamed pudding with custard....oh my!xx
joskitchenlarder says
Thanks Jenny 🙂 xx
Monika Dabrowski says
This looks really tasty and I am sure it is! Though I am not sure if I could wait for 2 whole hours for dessert - I am very impatient when it comes to sweet things:) Thank you for bringing this lovely recipe to #CookBlogShare
joskitchenlarder says
Thank you Monika! It's not easy to wait for this pudding to steam I totally agree that's why it's a perfect after Sunday dinner treat. You can time it just right so that it's ready when you are. Bliss 🙂 x
Corina Blum says
I love steamed puddings as they remind me of my childhood - I'm sure I used to have one a least once a week back then! This one sounds delicious with the spices in.
joskitchenlarder says
Thank you! I'm quite new to steamed puddings (the sweet version) myself but it was definitely love from the first taste! lol This one is super autumnal and really delicious! x
Lathiya says
Awesome recipe..I love recipes with less ingredients and no fuss preparation like this
joskitchenlarder says
Thank you Lathiya ? It is pretty straightforward isn’t it and steaming is the only thing that takes time here. The joy of steamed puddings ? x
Jenny Paulin says
thank you for linking to #Bakeoftheweek too 🙂 x
Helen says
that looks delicious, and such a great colour - your custard looks really good too!
joskitchenlarder says
Thanks Helen, pumpkin gave the pudding lovely orange hue 🙂 Bird's Custard Powder never fails, family favourite! 🙂
Jenny Paulin says
ooooh this is a beauty of a dessert isn't it? I love that you have used pumpkin - such a clever way of using it in a pudding. Plus the colour of the pudding is a lovely colour with the pumpkin added to it. And with the plum conserve aswell - I bet that tasted really delicious. thank you for (almost) linking to #GBBOBloggers2017 x
joskitchenlarder says
Thanks Jenny! 😉 I love the orange colour the pumpkin gives to the pud too, very appropriate for the time of year lol. It really was delicious, definite keeper especially that family loved it! x