Clootie dumpling
A dark, spiced fruit dumpling boiled in a cloth and dried to a skin, served warm with custard.
- Time3 hr 30
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £0.36 a head
- Oven180°C (160°C fan)
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Mix the flour, breadcrumbs, suet, brown sugar, dried fruit, spices and bicarbonate of soda in a big bowl.
- 2
Stir in the grated apple, treacle and enough milk to make a soft, dropping dough.
- 3
Dip a clean tea towel in boiling water, wring it out and dust well with flour. Lay it in a bowl and spoon in the dough.
- 4
Gather the cloth, tie it with string and leave room for the dough to swell.
- 5
Lower into a large pan of simmering water on a saucer. Simmer for 3 hours, topping up with boiling water.
180 min - 6
Lift out, peel off the cloth and dry the dumpling in a 180°C (160°C fan) oven for 10 minutes until it has a skin. Dust with caster sugar and slice.
10 min
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.