Mary Berry Steamed Syrup Sponge Food

MARY BERRY'S CHOCOLATE STEAMED PUDDING WITH CHOCOLATE SAUCE

Steps:

• 1. Grease it with baking spread, then cut a small square of baking paper (about the size of the base of the bowl), grease it and place in the base of the basin, pressing it into the corners. 2. Measure all the pudding ingredients into a mixing bowl. Whisk with an electric hand whisk until well blended, light and fluffy. Spoon the mixture into the basin and level the top. 3. Cut a square of foil about 4cm (1½in) bigger than the top rim of the pudding and grease the underside with butter. Make a pleat in the middle of the square. Place it on top of the basin and tightly press around the edges, then tie with string to seal. 4. Put a small plate or a trivet in the base of a deep saucepan. Place the basin on top and pour in enough boiling water to come halfway up the sides and cover with a lid. Bring the water back to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer very gently for 1½-1¾ hours until firm to touch on top when gently pressed. 5. To make the chocolate sauce, measure the milk and cream into a saucepan. Heat until just boiling, then add the chocolate and vanilla. Remove the pan from the heat and stir until the chocolate has melted. 6. Carefully remove the basin from the pan and take off the foil. To turn out, loosen around the edges with a knife, then turn upside down on to a plate and remove the bowl. Remove the paper on top. Pour some warm sauce over the pudding and cut into wedges. Serve the remaining sauce in a jug.

EASY TREACLE SPONGE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Mix the syrup, lemon zest, juice and breadcrumbs and spread over the base of a 1.5 litre baking dish.
• Beat the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy, then beat in the eggs, one by one. Stir in the flour and milk and dollop over the syrup. Bake for 35-40 mins until golden and risen, and a skewer poked into the sponge comes out clean-ish. Eat with lots of custard, cream or ice cream and extra dribbles of syrup.

SYRUP SPONGE PUDDING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a two pint heat proof bowl or basin.
• In large bowl, cream together margarine and sugar. Add, a little at a time, beaten eggs, vanilla and flour, until well mixed. Fold in milk to make a smooth consistency.
• Pour syrup in bottom of prepared basin and layer batter over the top. Cover basin with firmly tied parchment paper covered with foil. Line a roasting pan with a damp kitchen towel. Place basin on towel, inside roasting pan, and place roasting pan on oven rack. Fill roasting pan with boiling water to reach halfway up the sides of the basin.
• Steam in the oven for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until pudding springs back when touched. Invert onto serving plate and serve warm.

MARY BERRY'S MAPLE SYRUP CAKE

Steps:

• You will need a deep, round, 8 inch cake tin.
• Lightly grease the cake tin and line the base with a circle of nonstick baking parchment.
• Pre-heat the oven to 325.
• Put all the ingredients for the cake except the pecan nuts into a large mixing bowl and mix well until evenly blended; an electric mixer is best for this but, of course, you can also beat by hand with a wooden spoon.
• Stir in the chopped pecan nuts.
• Spoon the mixture into the prepared cake tin and level the surface.
• Bake for 1-11⁄2 hours, until well risen, golden and springy to the touch.
• Allow to cool slightly, then turn the cake out onto a wire rack, peel off the lining paper and leave to cool completely.
• Whip the cream until it just holds its shape and then fold in the maple syrup.
• Split the cake horizontally into three and fill and cover with the cream, using a small palette knife to smooth it evenly over the top and sides.
• Decorate the top with the shredded orange zest.
• Store in the refrigerator.

MICROWAVE SPONGE PUDDING

Steps:

• In a microwavable bowl, put the jam or syrup so that it covers the bottom. This will be the top of your cake.
• Here it is best to use a food processor, although if you want to you can do it by hand. Put all of the remaining basic ingredients into a bowl (or the mixer) with one of the flavour ingredients. If you want to, you can keep it plain.
• Mix or blend all of the ingredients together until smooth.
• Put in bowl on top of jam/syrup and microwave without a lid on full for 5 mins. Leave for 1-2 mins to stand.