Simple Christmas Pudding - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 cups plain dried breadcrumbs (canister type ok)
1 cup cherry flavored craisins (dried sweetened cranberries)
1 cup orange flavored craisins
1/2 cup unsulphured molasses
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon boiling water
1 1/2 cups apple cider
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon mace
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Preparation

Heavily butter a pudding mold.
Dust lightly with flour.
In large bowl, mix together breadcrumbs, Craisins, molasses, and melted butter.
Dissolve baking soda in boiling water and add to mixture.
Add apple cider and mix well.
Sift together dry ingredients and add to mixture.
Stir to combine.
Place pudding mixture into mold.
Top mold with heavily buttered aluminum foil and cover tightly.
Bear in mind that pudding will expand some as it steams.
Place mold on rack in a steamer or large pot.
Add boiling water until the mold is 3/4 of the way submerged.
Cover and steam for 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours.
Pudding will be firm when done.
Serve warm with a vanilla sauce or hard sauce.