Christmas Pudding and Stir-up Sunday 2026

Published October 24, 2026 · GiveOwl

Stir-up Sunday is the last Sunday before Advent, when families traditionally mix the Christmas pudding. The name has little to do with stirring a pudding. Here is where it comes from, and a simple recipe to try.

Where the name comes from

• Date: Stir-up Sunday is the last Sunday before Advent. In 2026 that is Sunday 22 November (our calculation; Advent Sunday is Sunday 29 November).
• Name: According to Historic UK, the day is named after the Book of Common Prayer. The Collect for that Sunday begins "Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people". Since Victorian times the day has been linked with making the pudding.
• Custom: Each family member takes a turn at stirring and makes a wish. The pudding should be stirred from east to west, in honour of the Magi who came from the east.
• 13 ingredients: Traditionally a pudding had 13 ingredients, representing Jesus and his disciples.
• Coins: Sometimes a silver coin is added; whoever finds it is said to receive health, wealth and happiness in the coming year. Historic UK also notes that a coin has been known to break a tooth. If you hide one, tell your guests.
• Origin of the pudding: The sources do not agree. Historic UK says the pudding is said to have been introduced by Prince Albert, but that a version is thought to have come from Germany with George I in 1714. We make no claim either way.

Simple Christmas pudding (alcohol-free)

Makes one pudding in a 1.2-litre (2-pint) heatproof basin. Our own recipe; we have not kitchen-tested it.

Ingredients

• 150 g raisins, 150 g sultanas and 100 g currants
• 50 g mixed candied peel
• 1 eating apple, grated
• Zest and juice of 1 orange
• 100 g shredded suet (beef or vegetable)
• 100 g dark soft brown sugar
• 100 g fresh white breadcrumbs
• 50 g plain flour
• 2 tsp mixed spice, ½ tsp ground cinnamon, ¼ tsp grated nutmeg and a pinch of salt
• 2 eggs, 1 tbsp black treacle and 100 ml milk
• Butter for the basin

Method

1. Mix the dried fruit, peel, apple, orange zest and juice in a large bowl. Cover and leave for a few hours or overnight.
2. Add the suet, sugar, breadcrumbs, flour and spices. Stir well, taking turns if you like, and make a wish.
3. Beat the eggs with the treacle and milk, then stir them in. The mixture should drop slowly from a spoon.
4. Butter the basin and spoon in the mixture, leaving a gap at the top for the pudding to rise. Press it down gently.
5. Cover with a double layer of baking parchment and foil, pleated in the middle, and tie it tightly under the rim with string.
6. Put the basin on an upturned saucer in a large pan. Pour in boiling water to come about halfway up the basin. Cover the pan and simmer gently for about 6 hours, topping up with boiling water so it never boils dry.
7. Cool, re-cover with fresh parchment and foil, and keep somewhere cool and dry, or freeze.
8. On the day, steam for about 2 more hours (or reheat until piping hot all the way through). Turn out and serve with custard or cream.

This is our own simple recipe with everyday ingredients – we have not kitchen-tested it, so treat times and temperatures as a guide and adjust for your oven. Allergens: depending on the recipe it contains gluten (flour, breadcrumbs), milk (butter), eggs and nuts or almonds, and dried fruit may contain sulphites. Check every label before you cook for other people.

We leave out the traditional flaming brandy. Historic UK describes pouring warm brandy over the pudding and lighting it, and notes that many an eyebrow has been lost doing so. Holly on top is for decoration only: holly berries are poisonous, so keep them away from the food.

Equipment

Ad: Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The price is the same for you. Prices and availability change – see the current price on Amazon.

🍮 Mason Cash pudding basin, 17 cm (amazon.co.uk) ↗ (ad). Check the capacity on the product page against the 1.2-litre basin used above, and fill the basin no more than about three-quarters full.

More of the baking tradition: Mince pies: history and a simple recipe and Christmas cake: history and a simple recipe. Dates and the full overview for 2026: Christmas in the UK: traditions and recipes.