This gluten free summer pudding was a bit of a last minute creation, it’s an idea I’ve had in my mind for ages (especially the boozy bit!) but this weekend the family was invited to my brother-in-law’s for dinner and I said I’d provide my own pudding. I knew treacle sponge and custard was going to be on the cards as this is my sister-in-law’s all-time favourite (is it me or are there a lot of hyphens in this paragraph?) I also knew the children were going to have a luxury ice cream of some description. I decided that I WANTED a fancy pudding too, and what better pudding to have than a traditional English dessert.
‘No time like the present’ I thought and tah-dah, my Boozy Gluten Free Summer Pudding was born.
I already had a crop of blackberries that Bethany and Lewis had foraged from down the street, and I ALWAYS have cherries in the house, I adore cherries. The other half of the blackberries had gone into my Blackberry Crumble Fool but the remaining ones were going to be perfect for the job.
I have a cherry stone pitter thingy that pops the stones out of each cherry with relative ease, so I’d really recommend getting one if you don’t have one already, getting stones out of cherries with a knife takes time and patience, the first I have very little and the latter I have none (unless it’s my children I need to be patience with, in which case I’m a bloody saint!).
I added booze because a) I wanted the pudding to be extra special and b) even bloody saints need a tipple now and again!
The recipe uses four little pudding moulds for a more authentic shape but to be fair these puddings are robust and could cope with being made in ramekin dishes or even small glass tumblers. As long as you oil the vessel well before adding the bread outer layer you’ll be fine.
Other Gluten Free Summertime Desserts
Before we get to the recipe I’d love to draw your attention to these other bloggers and their summer inspired recipes and summer time top tips. That’s right, the Free From Gang (that’s #FreeFromGang) are at it again and this time we’re collaborating on a #FreeFromSummer;
Then you have my personal recipes perfect for this summer, whatever the weather; The Best Homemade Blackberry and Gin Ice Cream, English Lavender Shortbread – a summertime treat, Gooseberry Fool Crumble; gluten free and dairy free.
Blackberry & Gin Ice Cream 
Gooseberry Crumble (GF, DF, Ve) 
Lavender Shortbread (GF, DF, Ve)
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One last note, of course you can use any combination of summer fruits in this English dessert; redcurrants, blackcurrants, raspberries even strawberries. Just remember the resulting colour will vary depending on the fruits you choose. I was thrilled with the fact that on this occasion these gluten free summer puddings came out with mottled colouring almost like a purple animal print; quite funky really (my kids would moan If they read this, ‘FUNKY! Really mum’).
Gluten Free Summer Pudding Recipe
A straight forward, no fuss Summers Pudding dessert using up seasonal red fruits and berries. Simple to make gluten free, dairy free and vegan if you wish, and for that extra kick add a slug of booze, because why not!
- 11-12 slices gluten free bread trim off the crusts
- 150 g pitted cherries
- 150 g blackberries
- 2 tbsp sherry brandy, kirsch or another spirit will work
- 1 tbsp caster sugar
- spray oil to grease containers
Using a circle cutter, cut out 4 circles of bread to fit the bottom of the container and set aside.
Using a circle cutter, cut out 4 circles a fraction smaller than the top of the container and set aside.
Continue to cut the remaining bread into two rectangles (I cut top to bottom to create two long sided rectangles) You’ll need 8 rectangles in total.
(How are your building skills) Don’t throw away the trimmings just yet, you may need them for patching.
In a saucepan, or jug if microwaving, add the fruit, sugar and booze. Heat until fruit has softened. No need to boil.
Strain the fruit into a large enough bowl to dip your bread.
Oil the pudding containers and soak your circles in the fruit juices until all the bread has turned colour. Pop a circle into each container.
Repeat soaking with your bread rectangles and line each pudding container. If you’re lucky (like me) two rectangles will do the job and there’s no need to patch. [look at notes below to see what you can do with any left over bread pieces/crusts]
Spoon the fruit into each bread casing and after soaking the last four larger circles of bread seal the fruit inside (I admit to adding a tiny bit more booze before sealing my fruit in, naughty I know!)
Cover the whole pudding in clingfilm and pop in the fridge overnight, this will continue the process of the fruit juices soaking into the bread and set the pudding.
When ready to eat gently release the side of the summers pudding with a knife and turn out onto a plate, serve with cream, yogurt or dairy free alternatives and if you’re fancy like me pop some fruit on the top to make it extra pretty!
I always bag up any bread off cuts and crusts and either freeze and keep adding to the bag, or if I have enough, use straight away in a bread pudding recipe
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Rebecca, I love that you made them individual. The one large pudding looks lovely on a platter, but as soon as you remove one serving, well … YOU know! I always say, Summer fruits are the only thing I like about summer!
I know EXACTLY what you mean Jean and LOVE that you’ve made this point…we sound very alike you and I :-D
What a great way to use some summer berries – and with a cheeky (but much warranted) tipple in there too. Those colours seeped throught to the bread are just gorgeous – definitely funky :-D Thankyou for sharing with #Bakingcrumbs,
Angela x
I am always drawn to simple desserts that uses berries. This looks gorgeous.
I do love the colour on these and that added tipple is oh so appropriate if you ask me! So delicious! Thank you for sharing with #BakingCrumbs :) xx
Always room for a tipple in my opinion :-D
This is a great pudding for me – I love booze (haha) and I love cherries. Great recipe, thanks for sharing xx
This dessert looks positively sexy, so I’m pinning it for date night! YUM. #brillblogposts
Ooh I love cherries too. I often sit and eat a whole punnet. The addition of booze is right up my street, this looks delicious – and funky!
They look gorgeous and I love the purple mottled effect! I bet you didn’t feel left out eating one of these!
I felt very special and secretly I think people were jealous although not one person commented!!