This classic Hairy Bikers jam roly poly is made with suet pastry, raspberry jam, and semi-skimmed milk. It bakes in just 35 minutes for a soft, comforting British pudding. This recipe serves 6 and is perfect with hot custard.
I love making this on a cold Sunday afternoon when the family wants something properly old-fashioned. It takes me back to school dinners every time.
Jam Roly Poly Ingredients
- Softened butter, for greasing
- 200g self-raising flour, plus extra for dusting
- 100g shredded suet
- 1 tbsp caster sugar
- Good pinch of salt
- 150ml semi-skimmed milk or water
- 6–7 tbsp raspberry or strawberry jam
How To Make Jam Roly Poly
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 200°C (180°C Fan / Gas Mark 6). Butter a large sheet of greaseproof paper and set it aside.
- Make the dough: Combine the flour, suet, caster sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Gradually mix in the milk or water to form a soft dough.
- Shape the roly poly: Knead the dough briefly on a floured surface, then roll it out to a 22cm x 32cm rectangle. Spread the jam across the surface, leaving a 1.5cm border all around.
- Roll and wrap: Roll up from one short end and place seam-side down on the greased greaseproof paper. Wrap with a pleat to allow for expansion, then twist the ends and secure with kitchen string. Wrap again in a layer of foil.
- Bake: Place a roasting rack inside a deep roasting tin and sit the wrapped roly poly on the rack. Pour boiling water into the tin until it reaches halfway up. Bake for 30–35 minutes until well risen and firm to the touch.
- Serve: Remove from the oven, unwrap the foil, cut the string, and peel away the paper. Slice thickly and serve warm with hot custard or cream.
What Is the Secret to Perfect Jam Roly Poly?
- Keep the dough light: Mix until the ingredients are just combined. Overworking suet pastry makes it tough and chewy.
- Choose a thick jam: A good quality, thick jam holds its shape during baking. Thin or runny jam is more likely to leak out.
- Leave a pleat in the paper: The dough expands as it bakes, so a pleat in the greaseproof paper gives it room to rise without bursting open.
- Keep the water topped up: Check the roasting tin halfway through baking. If the water runs low, top it up with boiling water from a kettle.
- Try vegetarian suet: Vegetable suet is a straight swap and gives a slightly lighter texture. It works well if you want to keep this pudding meat-free, just like with a bread and butter pudding.
What Should You Serve on the Side?
This pudding is best served warm, sliced thick, and drenched in a generous pour of hot custard. For a different texture, try a scoop of vanilla ice cream that melts slowly over the warm slices.
A drizzle of double cream or a light dusting of icing sugar also works well. Fresh raspberries on the side add a nice tang that cuts through the sweetness. If you enjoy classic British puddings, you might also like a sticky toffee pudding.
Does This Keep Well?
Let any leftover slices cool fully, then place them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat by steaming for a few minutes or warming gently in a microwave until hot through.
You can also freeze the roly poly whole or in individual slices. Wrap tightly in cling film and then foil before freezing for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Nutrition Facts
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Total Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 200mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 45g
- Dietary Fibre: 1g
- Sugars: 20g
- Protein: 5g
Frequently Asked Questions
Is jam roly poly baked or steamed? Traditionally it was boiled in a cloth, but the Hairy Bikers use an oven-steam method where the wrapped pudding sits on a rack over boiling water in a roasting tin. This gives the same soft texture in about 35 minutes.
How does Hairy Bikers jam roly poly compare to Nadiya Hussain’s? The Hairy Bikers version uses a classic suet pastry with raspberry jam, while Nadiya’s adds fresh fruit, orange zest, and a crunchy sugar topping. Both are baked rather than boiled.
Can you make jam roly poly without suet? Yes, you can use cold grated butter instead of suet. The pastry will be slightly less fluffy, but it still works well and suits those who prefer not to use animal fat.
Why is jam roly poly also called dead man’s leg? The nickname comes from the old method of boiling the pudding in a shirt sleeve or muslin cloth. The long, pale shape wrapped in fabric looked a bit like a limb.
What other fillings work in a roly poly? Golden syrup, marmalade, lemon curd, and mincemeat all work well. Spread them the same way as the jam, leaving a border so the filling stays inside during baking.
Try More Recipes:
- Hairy Bikers Bread and Butter Pudding Recipe
- Hairy Bikers Sticky Toffee Pudding Recipe
- Hairy Bikers Rice Pudding Recipe
Hairy Bikers Jam Roly Poly Recipe
Description
This Hairy Bikers jam roly poly is a classic British pudding made with suet pastry, raspberry jam, and semi-skimmed milk. Oven-baked in just 35 minutes over a tin of boiling water for a soft, comforting result. Serves 6.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set oven to 200°C (180°C Fan / Gas Mark 6). Butter a large sheet of greaseproof paper and set aside.
- Make the dough: Combine the flour, suet, caster sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Gradually mix in the milk or water to form a soft dough.
- Shape the roly poly: Knead briefly on a floured surface, then roll out to a 22cm x 32cm rectangle. Spread the jam across the surface, leaving a 1.5cm border.
- Roll and wrap: Roll up from one short end, seam-side down, onto the greased paper. Wrap with a pleat for expansion, twist ends, and tie with string. Wrap again in foil.
- Bake: Place on a roasting rack in a deep tin. Pour boiling water to halfway up the tin. Bake for 30–35 minutes until well risen and firm.
- Serve: Unwrap the foil, cut string, remove paper. Slice thickly and serve warm with custard or cream.
