Full question
Do you recommend substituting Pedro Ximenez Sherry in the Ultimate Christmas Pudding? I am on a tight budget and have plenty of Australian fortified muscat on hand. Would this produce a similar result?
Our answer
Nigella's Ultimate Christmas Pudding (from NIGELLA CHRISTMAS) has a mixture of dried fruits that are soaked in Pedro Ximenez sherry for a week before being used. The sherry is sweeter and has more fig and liquorice flavours than some harder liquors, which enhances the dried fruits. However, if the sherry is not available then it is possible to use alternatives.
Fortified muscat, also known as vin doux naturel, is not that well known in Europe but we understand that these wines are popular in Australia and some of these wines are produced using the soler ageing system, which is also the ageing system used for sherry. The flavours are described as "dried and candied fruit coupled with caramel, rich, dark chocolate and cinnamon spice". So the fortified muscat seems as if it would be a good alternative to the Pedro Ximinez. Traditionally Christmas Puddings are made on "Stir-Up Sunday", which this year is on Sunday 26th November 2023.
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