Clootie Dumpling — Print Recipe

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

Ingredients

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.