Blackberry Summer Pudding Recipes

Steps:

• Bring out the juices: Wash fruit and gently dry on kitchen paper - keep strawberries separate. Put sugar and 3 tbsp water into a large pan. Gently heat until sugar dissolves - stir a few times. Bring to a boil for 1 min, then tip in the fruit (not strawberries). Cook for 3 mins over a low heat, stirring 2-3 times. The fruit will be softened, mostly intact and surrounded by dark red juice. Put a sieve over a bowl and tip in the fruit and juice.
• Line the bowl with cling film and prepare the bread: Line the 1.25-litre basin with cling film as this will help you to turn out the pudding. Overlap two pieces of cling film in the middle of the bowl as it's easier than trying to get one sheet to stick to all of the curves. Let the edges overhang by about 15cm. Cut the crusts off the bread. Cut 4 pieces of bread in half, a little on an angle, to give 2 lopsided rectangles per piece. Cut 2 slices into 4 triangles each and leave the final piece whole.
• Build the pud: Dip the whole piece of bread into the juice for a few secs just to coat. Push this into the bottom of the basin. Now dip the wonky rectangular pieces one at a time and press around the basin's sides so that they fit together neatly, alternately placing wide and narrow ends up. If you can't quite fit the last piece of bread in it doesn't matter, just trim into a triangle, dip in juice and slot in. Now spoon in the softened fruit, adding the strawberries here and there as you go.
• Let flavours mingle then serve: Dip the bread triangles in juice and place on top - trim off overhang with scissors. Keep leftover juice for later. Bring cling film up and loosely seal. Put a side plate on top and weight down with cans. Chill for 6 hrs or overnight. To serve, open out cling film then put a serving plate upside-down on top and flip over. serve with leftover juice, any extra berries and cream.

Steps:

• Combine peaches, 1/3 cup sugar and the ginger, if using, in a medium pot over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and cook, swirling occasionally, until the peaches have started to release their juices (but are not falling apart into mush), 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and transfer to a medium bowl; set aside to cool completely.
• Without rinsing out the pot (there's no need), combine the berries and remaining 1/3 cup sugar. Bring to a simmer and cook, swirling occasionally, until the berries have started to release their juices (but are not falling apart into mush), 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and transfer to a medium bowl, separate from the peaches; set aside to cool completely.
• Meanwhile, using an electric mixer or a whisk, beat cream and confectioners' sugar until spreadable, pillowy, medium peaks form, 3 to 4 minutes. Whisk in labneh until well blended.
• Line a 9-inch springform cake pan with plastic wrap so that there is ample overhang. (A regular cake pan will also work; just make sure it has high sides or you might need to make the pudding in two vessels.)
• Place one layer of sliced bread on the bottom. Cut the bread to fit as needed to make sure there is an even layer with no obvious gaps (aesthetics don't matter here, as it'll be covered up).
• Spoon 1/3 of the berry juices onto the bread to thoroughly soak, followed by half of the berries themselves. Spoon 1/3 of the peach juices onto the bread and berries, followed by half of the peaches themselves.
• Spread 1/3 of the cream mixture onto the fruit and top with another layer of bread, making sure to fill any obvious gaps with bread that's cut to fit. Top bread with another 1/3 of the berry juices and all of the remaining berries, followed by 1/3 of the peach juices and all of the remaining peaches. Top with 1/3 of the cream mixture, setting the remaining cream mixture aside in the refrigerator.
• Place another layer of bread on top, making sure to fill any obvious gaps, especially around the edges, with bread that's cut to fit. Spoon remaining 1/3 of the blackberry and peach juices on top, making sure to stain the entire surface. Place a piece of plastic wrap on top and then place a plate on top of the plastic. Rest a heavy can (or another medium-sized, relatively heavy, food-safe object) on top to lightly compress the whole shebang. Refrigerate for at least four hours.
• When you're ready to serve, crush a handful of berries with a sprinkling of sugar; let sit for a few minutes. Remove springform sides and plastic wrap. (If using a regular cake pan, lift the pudding out by the excess plastic and transfer the entire pudding to a plate, platter or cake stand, removing plastic wrap.)
• Take the remaining heavy cream mixture and top the pudding, swirling in the crushed berries to create streaks and swirls. Slice (or spoon) the pudding and serve. Pudding can be assembled three days ahead, stored tightly wrapped and refrigerated.

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, add the fruit (reserving a few berries for garnish). Add the sugar and cook until the fruit is starting to release some liquid, is tender and beginning to burst, but still holds its shape, about 5 minutes.
• Line a large 6-cup pudding bowl with plastic wrap, allowing lots of overhang.
• Remove the crusts from 10 to 12 slices of bread. Press the bread slices briefly in the juices at the top of the berries in the pot then lay them into the bowl, juice-side down, ensuring there are no spaces. Use smaller pieces to overlap or close gaps in spaces, as needed.
• Remove the berries from the heat, and cool slightly. Using a slotted spoon, spoon the fruit into the bread-lined bowl, and top with a final layer of bread and spoon a bit more of the juices over the top to color the top layer of bread evenly. Reserve the remaining cooking juices for serving. Cover with the plastic wrap and place a plate over the top. Add a large heavy can or a 2-pound weight to the plate and let sit at least 8 hours, or overnight, refrigerated.
• On serving, whip the cream until soft peaks just begin to form. Add the sugar and whip until almost stiff.
• Gently invert the bowl onto a large serving dish, shaking it lightly to loosen. Peel the plastic wrap off, and spoon the reserved juice all over, to soak any bits of bread that still look white. Serve with a bowl of whipped cream on the side, or cut individual wedges, and add a dollop of cream and a berry or two for garnish.

Steps:

• In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the sugar, water, and raspberries. Cook, stirring carefully so as not to damage the berries, until the mixture is hot, and the sugar is dissolved. Set aside to cool slightly.
• Line a 1 quart bowl with 5 slices of bread. Pour the raspberry mixture over the bread, and place the last slice of bread on top. Cover the bowl loosely with plastic wrap. Place a weight on top of the bowl (canned goods work well), and refrigerate overnight.
• The next day, remove plastic wrap, and invert onto a plate. Serve chilled, with whipped cream on the side.

Steps:

• Add the raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, and sugar to a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the berries have softened but are still mostly intact and the sugar just dissolves. Remove the pan from the heat.
• Strain the berries through a fine-mesh sieve set over a liquid measuring cup. Add water as needed so you have 1½ cups (360 ml) of liquid total. Pour the liquid into a shallow dish. Reserve the fruit and the liquid.
• Trim the crusts off the bread. Cut the bread in half down the middle.
• Line a 2-quart bowl with enough plastic wrap to hang over the edges at least 4 inches (10 cm) all around.
• Dip a half slice of bread at a time in the reserved berry juice, then line the sides of the wrapped bowl, overlapping slightly. Some slices can hang over the side of the bowl. Line the center of the bowl once the sides are covered.
• Spoon the reserved berries into the center of the lined bowl. Fold the bread over the berries, then dip the remaining bread in the berry juice and cover the center, overlapping slightly. Pour any remaining juice over the pudding.
• Cover the pudding with the plastic wrap. Place a small plate on top and weigh down with a can. Refrigerate for at least 6 hours, up to overnight.
• When ready to serve, remove the plate and the can and peel back the plastic. Place a serving platter over the bowl and quickly flip both the bowl and platter over to invert the pudding. Remove the bowl and plastic wrap.
• Top the pudding with the whipped cream, more berries, and fresh mint leaves. Slice and serve.
• Enjoy!

Steps:

• Line a 1 1/2-quart (8 1/2 by 4 1/2 by 3-inch) glass loaf pan with plastic wrap.
• In a large heavy saucepan bring water, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg with blueberries to a boil over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat and simmer mixture, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes, or until thickened. Remove pan from heat and cool mixture.
• Trim bread slices into 4-inch squares. Spread some applesauce on one side of each bread slice and arrange 2 slices, applesauce side down, in one layer in bottom of pan. Pour about one-third blueberry mixture over bread. Repeat layering procedure twice, ending with blueberry mixture. Chill dessert, covered, at least 6 hours and up to 1 day.
• Carefully invert dessert onto a large plate and discard plastic wrap. Serve with yogurt if desired.

Steps:

• Cream butter and sugar; add eggs and mix well.
• Sift dry ingredients together and add alternatively with milk to the first mixture.
• Add berries, taking caution not to crush them.
• Steam in a well-greased 2 quart mold for two hours.
• Serve with sweetened cream flavored with vanilla extract.