Mary Berry has shared a simplified version of the classic summer pudding, designed to be easier to prepare and serve. The recipe, featured on the BBC series Mary Berry Cooks and its accompanying cookbook, transforms the traditional dessert into a loaf that slices neatly, making it ideal for hosting.
Recipe Overview
This 'timeless' summer pudding loaf requires preparation a day in advance, as it must soak overnight. It serves 12 and uses a mixture of summer berries, including blueberries, redcurrants, blackcurrants, raspberries, blackberries, and loganberries. The recipe calls for 1.5kg of mixed berries, 400g of caster sugar, and one large unsliced white tin loaf (or thick-sliced white bread, ideally 2-3 days old). A 900g loaf tin (or two 450g tins) is needed.
Method
Begin by double-lining the loaf tin with clingfilm and greasing with butter. Prepare the fruit by removing leaves and stalks. Place blueberries, redcurrants, and blackcurrants in a pan with the sugar and 75ml of water, then bring to the boil. Cook for two to three minutes until the berries soften and burst, but avoid overcooking. Do not cook the raspberries, blackberries, or loganberries unless you are not using the other berries; if so, cook one of these to release juices. Otherwise, add them at the end.
Remove crusts from the bread and slice lengthwise into medium-thick pieces. Brush one side of each slice with fruit juice from the berry mixture. Place a slice in the tin, juice side down, trimming to fit. Position slices along the sides and ends of the tin, juice side against the tin. Spoon berry juice onto the base to soak the bread, then add fruit gradually, ensuring the bread absorbs juices and turns red. Seal with a top layer of bread, spooning over remaining juice to cover. Reserve about half the berries for serving.
Cover the tin with clingfilm and place a heavy weight (e.g., a tin of baked beans) on top to compress. Refrigerate overnight. To serve, invert the loaf onto a plate, remove clingfilm, slice, and serve with reserved berries and leftover juice.
