Jam Roly-Poly is an old British pudding from the 1800s.
The British have a fun way of naming their food, often inspired by how it looks or how it’s made. I’d love to share this pudding called Jam Roly-Poly, and once you see it, you’ll understand why it got that name.
It’s made by spreading jam over soft suet pastry, rolling it up, and then steaming or baking it. Traditionally, it was steamed in a cloth or an old shirt sleeve, earning a funny nickname, "shirt-sleeve pudding".
This was once a cheap and filling dessert loved by families and often served in school dinners. Usually enjoyed warm with custard, it remains a much-loved British comfort food.
Traditional Steamed Jam Roly-Poly
Ingredients:
200g (1⅔ cups) self-raising flour
100g (7 tbsp) shredded suet (beef or vegetarian)
1 tbsp caster sugar (optional)
Pinch of salt
~150ml (⅔ cup) cold water
5–6 tbsp jam (either raspberry, strawberry, blackberries or your preference)
Butter (for greasing)
A clean tea towel or pudding cloth
String or kitchen twine
Baking parchment and foil (optional, for modern method)
Make the dough:
Mix the flour, suet, salt, and sugar (if using).
Gradually add water until you get a soft, manageable dough. Don’t overwork it.
Roll it out:
On a floured surface, roll the dough into a rectangle roughly 20 x 30 cm (8 x 12 in).
Spread the jam:
Leave a 1–2 cm (½ inch) border around the edge. Don’t go too thick, or it will ooze out.
Roll it up:
Carefully roll from the short end like a Swiss roll.
Pinch the ends closed.
To Steam (Cloth Method - Traditional):
Prepare cloth:
Scald a clean tea towel or pudding cloth with boiling water, wring it out, then flour it generously to prevent sticking
Wrap & tie:
Place the roll seam-side down on the cloth. Roll it up loosely, tuck in the ends, and tie securely with string, leaving room for expansion.
Steam:
Place in a large steamer or over a pan of gently simmering water (the water should not touch the pudding).
🥄 To Serve:
Undo the tie carefully.
Unwrap carefully.
Slice into thick pieces.
Serve:
Served with hot custard, fresh berries, and mint for freshness. Sprinkled with icing sugar.
Try to make it and enjoy it too!
Have a lovely day!
Mariah 😊💗
