Individual Summer Pudding

Summer pudding captures the essence of the season with its vibrant berries, offering a simple yet delightful way to celebrate occasions like Fathers Day. Picture the joy of preparing this treat in advance, evoking memories of fresh, juicy fruits and effortless family fun – it's like bottling sunshine for a special meal. And let's not forget, it's a clever nod to how even the humblest ingredients can steal the show with a bit of chilling magic.

This dessert boasts an aspirational charm, blending the tart sweetness of mixed berries with the soft, absorbing texture of bread, creating a refreshing and indulgent experience. The key ingredients highlight nature's bounty, while the overall technique infuses a sense of anticipation, making you feel connected to the rhythms of summer.

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6 Portions

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Prep: 30 minutes plus overnight or at least 2 hours
Cook: 10 minutes

Ingredients

Berries

300g strawberries, trimmed and cut into 4
200g raspberries
200g blueberries
2 tbsp water
100g caster sugar

Bread

18 medium slices of white bread crust removed

To Serve

mint leaves
6 strawberries

You Will Need

1 saucepan
1 wooden spoon
1 spoon
6 dariole moulds
cling film
6 tins of unopened food (to weigh down the puddings)
small knife

Method

Berries: Place the berries in a saucepan with the caster sugar and 2 tbsp of water. Place the saucepan over a moderate heat and cook the berries gently for 3-5 minutes until the sugar has dissolved. Remove it from the heat to cool.
Bread: Cut 6 rounds of bread the same size as the tops of the moulds. Slice each slice of bread into 4 lengthwise, place these in the moulds so that you cover all the sides (you may need to trim some of the slices to fit).
Summer Pudding: Spoon the cooled berries mixture into the lined moulds to the top. Place the round slices of bread on top to seal in the berries. Cover the mould with cling film and place them on a tray or plate. Place an opened tin of food on top of the dariole moulds to weigh them down and place them in the fridge for at least 2 hours but preferably overnight. Place any remaining juice and berries in a container in the refrigerator to serve with the puddings.
To Serve: Remove the puddings from the fridge and take off the weight and cling film. Place a plate on top of each pudding and turn it over, carefully lifting the mould from the puddings. If you have have some berries and juice set aside, pour a little of this around each pudding along with the berries. Place a mint leaf on each pudding and strawberry* on each one. Serve. You may serve the pudding with a little thick cream if you wish.

* To Fan Out Strawberries: With a small sharp knife cut each strawberry lengthwise into 4-6 times from the base to the top, making sure you don't cut through the top so that it is still held together, to serve them simply fan out the slices (optional).