Fireside Steamed Pudding

A flickering fire, a warm blanket and a bowl of this Fireside Steamed Pudding recipe — what could be better? What is steamed pudding, you ask? It's a traditional English dessert closer to a moist, dense cake than a creamy pudding. Steamed pudding differs from typical cakes by including bread crumbs in the batter, which is then cooked over boiling water. Our Fireside Steamed Pudding recipe combines cherry pie filling, chocolate chips and a handful of baking ingredients to create a luscious and decadent chocolate-cherry flavored "cake." We recommend serving it warm with a dollop of cherry whipped cream.

Ingredients

1 - 1/2 cups

bread crumbs, dry and plain

1 cup

sugar, divided

2 Tbsps

all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp

baking powder

1/8 tsp

salt

6

eggs

1 can

cherry pie filling (21 oz) divided

2 Tbsps

butter or margarine, melted

1/2 tsp

almond extract

1/4 tsp

red food color

1 cup

HERSHEY'S Mini Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

Cherry Whipped Cream

1 cup

cold whipping cream (1/2 pt)

1/4 cup

powdered sugar

1/2 tsp

almond extract

Directions

Thoroughly grease 8-cup tube mold or heat-proofed bowl.2

Stir together bread crumbs, 3/4 cup sugar, flour, baking powder and salt in large bowl. Stir together egg yolks, 1 1/2 cups cherry pie filling, butter, almond extract and food color in medium bowl; add to crumb mixture, stirring gently until well blended.3

Beat egg whites in another large bowl until foamy; gradually add remaining 1/4 cup sugar, beating until stiff peaks form. Fold about 1/3 beaten whites into cherry mixture, blending thoroughly. Fold in remaining egg whites; gently fold in small chocolate chips. Pour batter into prepared tube mold. (If mold is open at top, cover opening with foil; grease top of foil). Cover mold with wax paper and foil; tie securely with string.4

Place a rack in a large kettle; pour water into kettle to top of rack. Heat water to boiling; place mold on rack. Cover kettle; steam over simmering water about 1 1/2 hours or until wooden pick inserted comes out clean. (Additional water may be needed during steaming). Remove from heat; cool in pan 5 minutes. Remove cover; unmold onto serving plate. Serve warm with Cherry Whipped Cream.