Traditional Scottish Clootie Dumpling 🍰🍯
This Clootie Dumpling is a hearty, spiced fruit pudding that’s traditionally boiled in a cloth ("cloot"). Packed with dried fruits, suet, and a mix of warm spices, it’s a comforting and deeply satisfying dessert, perfect for cold winter days or special family gatherings.
Ingredients:
🧈 Suet: 200g
🍚 Self-raising flour: 225g
🍚 Caster sugar: 100g
🍯 Golden syrup: 3 tbsp
🍊 Mixed dried fruit: 200g (raisins, currants, sultanas)
🍏 Grated apple: 1 medium
🥚 Egg: 1, beaten
🧂 Ground mixed spice: 1 tsp
🧂 Ground cinnamon: 1/2 tsp
🧂 Baking soda: 1/2 tsp
🍶 Milk: 100ml
🍃 Pinch of salt
🍋 Lemon zest: 1 tsp
Method:
🍳 Grease a large piece of cloth (a cotton or linen tea towel) and set aside. Make sure it’s large enough to wrap the dumpling.
🍚 Mix the dry ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the suet, self-raising flour, caster sugar, mixed spice, cinnamon, baking soda, and a pinch of salt.
🍏 Add the wet ingredients: Stir in the grated apple, lemon zest, beaten egg, and golden syrup. Gradually add the milk, stirring until the mixture forms a sticky dough.
🍇 Add the dried fruit: Fold in the dried fruit until evenly distributed.
🧶 Prepare the dumpling: Spoon the mixture into the centre of the greased cloth. Tie it up securely with kitchen string, leaving enough room for the dumpling to expand as it cooks.
🍲 Boil the dumpling: Bring a large pot of water to the boil, then lower the dumpling into the water. Simmer gently for 2-3 hours, making sure the water doesn’t boil over. Keep checking the water level and top it up if needed.
🍰 Allow to cool: Once cooked, carefully remove the dumpling from the pot and allow it to cool slightly before unwrapping.
🍴 Serve: Traditionally, it’s served warm, often with a dollop of whipped cream or a spoonful of custard.
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 2.5–3 hours
Total Time: 3 hours 20 mins
Servings: 8
Calories: ~250 per serving