The Ultimate Spotted Dick

Written by
Elaine Lemm
Elaine Lemm is a renowned British food writer, classically trained chef, teacher, and author with over 25 years of experience writing about British food and cooking.
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Elaine Lemm
Updated 10/28/19
Spotted Dick

 The Spruce
  • Total: 2 hrs 30 mins
  • Prep: 30 mins
  • Cook: 2 hrs
  • Servings: 6 servings
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
438 Calories
23g Fat
55g Carbs
5g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 438
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 23g 30%
Saturated Fat 11g 56%
Cholesterol 14mg 5%
Sodium 596mg 26%
Total Carbohydrate 55g 20%
Dietary Fiber 4g 14%
Protein 5g
Calcium 109mg 8%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Puddings are the backbone of British food, and one familiar to everyone is the great Spotted Dick. The name of this classic English pudding usually will raise a smile or look of abject horror which is why some prefer the less-well-known title of “Spotted Dog Pudding," but it doesn't quite sound the same.

Spotted Dick is not a pudding for the faint-hearted or those on a diet as it is made from suet, flour, and dried fruit and is high in calories. It is, however, the perfect pudding for a treat on a cold winter's day. And, a little now and again is OK.

Ingredients

  • 4 ounces/115 g. raisins
  • 2 ounces/55 g. currants
  • 3 ounces/75 g. dark brown sugar
  • 1 lemon (zested)
  • 8 ounces/225 g. self-raising flour (plus extra for dusting)
  • 4 ounces/115 g. shredded suet
  • Pinch of salt
  • 2 ounces/55 mL milk

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Spotted Dick Recipe ingredients
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  2. In a small bowl mix the raisins, currants, sugar, and lemon rind for the filling.

    Mixed raisins, currants, sugar, and lemon rind
     The Spruce

  3. Sift the flour into a large mixing bowl and add the suet and the salt and rub together to combine.

    Flour in bowl
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  4. Add a little milk and using a knife to cut through the mixture, add more milk little by little until it comes together.

    Milk and knife in bowl
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  5. Finally use your hands to combine into a soft, elastic dough. Add more milk if necessary.

  6. Place the dough on a lightly floured surface and roll into a rectangle about 8 x 12 inches.

    Dough on lightly floured wooden board
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  7. Evenly spread the pudding filling mixture over the dough leaving a 1/2-inch border. Paint this with a little cold water.

    Mixture on flattened dough
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  8. Roll up carefully from the narrow end.

    Rolled up dough
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  9. Soak a clean tea towel or cloth napkin in boiling water for a few minutes. Using tongs, squeeze to remove excess water. (Please be careful doing this!) Then wrap the suet roll pudding in the napkin twisting at each end, securing with kitchen string.

    Dough roll in towel
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  10. Steam the pudding roll for 2 hours in a steamer.

    Wrapped dough roll in steamer dish
     The Spruce

  11. Alternatively, wrap the pudding suet roll in foil and bake in a hot oven (400 F/200 C/Gas 6) for 1 hour 30 mins.

    Dough roll on foil
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  12. Unwrap immediately, cut into thick slices, and serve in warmed bowls with lashings of custard.

    Sliced Spotted Dick roll
     The Spruce

  13. Enjoy!

    Spotted Dick
    The Spruce

Where Does Spotted Dick Get Its Name?

It is believed the spotted part refers to the raisins and currants in the dough and the word dick' is a colloquial word for pudding originating from the first word for pudding, a "puddick" or "puddog." 

There are stories around that the pudding is named after beloved dogs, but there is a little historical fact to back this up. Who cares, though, the pudding is delicious no matter where the name originates.