Clootie Dumpling

Name: Clootie Dumpling
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 195 min
Total time: 225 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Scottish
Ingredients: 225g plain flour; 150g breadcrumbs; 150g beef suet or butter; 150g mixed dried fruit; 100g sugar; 1 tsp baking soda; 2 tsp mixed spice; 1 tsp cinnamon; 1 tsp ground ginger; 2 eggs, beaten; 4 tbsp black treacle; 150ml buttermilk

Clootie Dumpling (CLOO-tee DUM-pling)

Cloth-Boiled Pudding

⏱ Prep Time 30 min

📈 Difficulty Hard

👥 Servings

🔥 Calories 378 kcal

A spiced, steamed fruit pudding wrapped in a cloth (cloot), with a distinctive crispy skin — Scotland's traditional celebration dessert.

Nutrition & Info

Protein 5.0g

Carbs 58.0g

Fat 14.0g

Protein Carbs Fat

Dietary

nut-free

Allergen Warnings

⚠ gluten ⚠ dairy ⚠ eggs

Equipment Needed

large pot muslin cloth (cloot) mixing bowl string

Presentation Guide

Vessel: warm plate

Garnishes: dusting of sugar

Accompaniments: custard, cream, whisky sauce

Ingredients

225g plain flour
150g breadcrumbs
150g beef suet or butter
150g mixed dried fruit
100g sugar
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp mixed spice
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
2 eggs, beaten
4 tbsp black treacle
150ml buttermilk

Instructions

1
Mix all dry ingredients in a large bowl: flour, breadcrumbs, suet, fruit, sugar, baking soda, and spices.
2
Add beaten eggs, treacle, and buttermilk. Mix to a soft dropping consistency.
3
Dip a large muslin cloth in boiling water, wring out, and flour the centre generously.
4
Place pudding mixture in the centre of the cloth. Gather up the sides, tie with string, leaving room to expand.
5
Lower into a large pot of simmering water. Boil for 3 hours, topping up water as needed.
6
Unwrap carefully. Dry in a warm oven for 15 min to form the characteristic skin. Serve with custard.

💡

Did You Know?

A clootie dumpling traditionally contained coins and charms baked inside — finding a coin meant wealth, a ring meant marriage.

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

large pot
muslin cloth (cloot)
mixing bowl
string

Garnishing

dusting of sugar

Accompaniments

custard, cream, whisky sauce

The Story Behind Clootie Dumpling

The clootie dumpling gets its name from the Scots word "cloot" meaning cloth. Before ovens were common in Scottish homes, puddings were boiled in a cloth in a pot over the fire. It served as a birthday cake in many Scottish households, with silver threepences hidden inside. The dried skin that forms when it's briefly oven-dried is considered the best part.

🕐 Traditionally enjoyed birthday, christmas, hogmanay 📜 Origins: 18th century

Comments (0)

No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!