Steamed syrup sponge recipe

Ingredients

• 100 g butter or soft margarine
• 100 g caster sugar
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• Few drops of vanilla essence
• 175 g self-raising flour
• dash of milk
• 4 tbsp syrup
• Custard, to serve

Method

1. Cream the butter and caster sugar together. Beat in the eggs a little at a time, followed by the vanilla.
2. Sift in the self-raising flour and fold it through with enough milk to make a soft dropping mixture.
3. Butter a heatproof pudding basin and spoon the syrup into the base. Add the sponge mixture, cover tightly with foil and secure it with kitchen string.
4. Stand the basin in a large covered saucepan and add enough boiling water to reach halfway up its sides. Simmer gently for 1½–2 hours, topping up with boiling water if needed so the pan does not boil dry.
5. Carefully remove the basin, turn the pudding onto a serving plate and serve with custard.