Mix the raisins, sultanas pineapple, and grated apple in a large bowl. Then chop the crystallized ginger and add. Add the orange zest and then squeeze the juice of the orange into the bowl. Finally, zest a lemon also into the bowl.
Mix all together and cover with plastic wrap. Put in the fridge - this is best done the night before.
Steamed Fruit Pudding Mix
Make the breadcrumbs in a food processor till they are fine breadcrumbs
Prepare to line the tins with baking paper - by tracing correct sized circles. (see our pictures) Cut the baking paper to size
Grease the tins with butter before you put in the baking paper and also after you put in the baking paper. ( we used a brush with soft butter)
Diced the glazed cherries and add to the fruit mix, plus add the rum also.
Melt the butter and mix in the golden syrup and condensed milk.
Then add the sugar
Add the eggs that have been whisked first to the butter and milk mix
Next, add the baking soda and milk and stir well
Then mix well
After that add the rest of the dry ingredients (cinnamon, ginger, mixed spice) to the fruit and mix well by hand - see photo
Now mix the flour into the fruit
Then add the butter and wet mix to the fruit mix and continue to mix by hand.
When complete the mix will be quite wet and runny - so do not worry
Now add to the bowl or pudding tin you are cooking in
Cover the tin with baking paper and foil ( see picture to note the small fold in the middle to allow space for the cake to rise
We find that securing the paper and foil on the top with a rubber band is the best way to hold it on.
Now add the trivet and add some water
Put in the tin to the instant pot
Top the water up to about 1-2 inches below the top of your cake tin.
Now put the instant pot lid and set to steam - but leave the vent open so the steam comes out - note this means the timer will not work on the instant pot - so you will have to time it manually for 15 minutes as soon as you notice the steam coming out
After 15 minutes push cancel and close the steam vent and then set on high pressure for 45 minutes
Allow for 10 minutes of natural pressure release
Carefully take out the pudding and let it cool until you can touch it and it is only a little bit warm. Do not take out the pudding too early as it will be too fragile.
Then you can decorate as you see fit