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Plum pudding and its close relatives, such as figgy pudding, date back to the 1600s. While the earliest recorded instance of a dish named "Christmas pudding" appears in the 1837 cookbook "The Housekeeper's Book," the recipe that resonates most with Christmas traditions today comes from Eliza Acton’s 1845 "Modern Cookery for Private Families." This particular recipe has gained notoriety due to its historical context and the physical charm ascribed to Acton's early edition, which was graciously sent to the author by a viewer.