On a Sunday, I love nothing better than a roast beef supper followed by an indulgent slice of steamed syrup sponge pudding topped with custard. A great British favourite that’s simple to make but tastes divine.
For this recipe you will need a steamer. Use the biggest basket and make sure it is deep enough to hold your pudding bowl.
1hr 45mins – Prep time: 15mins – Cooking time: 1 ½hrs
{Serves: 6}
Ingredients
- 4oz caster sugar
- 4oz margarine, room temperature
- 4oz self raising flour, sieved
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 6 tbsp golden syrup
- 1tsp vanilla essence
- 1/2tsp baking powder
You’ll also need…
- A glass bowl, about 16cm diameter
- A steamer
- Parchment paper
- String
Instructions
- Lightly grease the glass bowl with some oil or butter. Then add the golden syrup to the bowl.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk sugar, eggs and vanilla essence until frothy and light.
- Bit by bit, add the flour, baking powder and margarine into the batter, until smooth and creamy.
- Scoop the batter gently into the glass bowl.
- Take a piece of parchment paper and create a pleat in the middle of it (this allows for air expansion when the pudding cooks). Place over the top of the bowl. Then add a layer of foil over the top of the parchment.
- Take the string, and wrap it around the top of the bowl, tying the foil and parchment to the bowl. Trim any excess off with scissors.
- Place in the steamer and cook for 1½ hours. Take care when removing it!
- Cut off string and remove parchment and foil. Place a plate on top of the bowl, then invert. The pudding will slide out easily.
- Serve with custard, or ice cream, or both!
I am from America and I don’t know what a steamer is and have never made steamed sponge or any of the amazing sounding foods from there. Would love an illustrated cookbook, LOL. What is the purpose of making a pleat in the parchment paper if you are going to securely tie a string around the foil?
Hi Bonida
Really sorry that I haven’t replied sooner but I’ve just come back from my honeymoon!
A steamer isn’t a UK thing, it’s just a vegetable steamer! Like this: http://www.amazon.com/Oster-CKSTSTMD5-W-5-Quart-Steamer-White/dp/B00519EDIA/ref=zg_bs_678541011_6
Or you can also use a double boiler like this: http://www.amazon.com/T-fal-Specialty-Stainless-Phenolic-Cookware/dp/B0046K5ZS2/ref=sr_1_3?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1445878384&sr=1-3&keywords=double+boiler
I personally don’t have enough room in my kitchen for the double boiler but I use the vegetable steamer regularly anyway!
The reason you create a pleat is so that if the pudding expands, there’s room for it to grow – simple as that!