Mary Berry Jam Sponge Pudding Recipes

MARY BERRY'S QUEEN OF PUDDINGS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 170C/325F/Gas 3 and grease a 1.4 litre/2½ pint shallow ovenproof dish (one that will fit into a roasting tin) with butter.
• For the base, very gently warm the milk in a small saucepan. Add the butter, lemon zest and the 50g/2oz of sugar, stir until dissolved.
• Lightly whisk the egg yolks in a bowl. Slowly pour the warm milk into the eggs, while whisking.
• Sprinkle the breadcrumbs over the base of the buttered dish and pour over the custard. Leave to stand for about 15 minutes, so the breadcrumbs absorb the liquid.
• Carefully transfer the dish to a roasting tin and fill the tin halfway with hot water. Bake the custard in the preheated oven for about 25-30 minutes until the custard has set. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool a little.
• Meanwhile, put the mixed summer fruits into a pan and warm over a gentle heat. Once they've softened and released their juice, add the sugar and cook for a further three minutes.
• Heat gently until you have a jam-like consistency. If you are using frozen berries they will release more liquid so you might need to cook for longer to thicken to the right jam consistency.
• Whisk the egg whites using an electric hand whisk on full speed until stiff peaks form when the whisk is removed. Add the remaining 175g/6oz sugar a teaspoon at a time, still whisking on maximum speed until the mixture is stiff and shiny. Transfer the meringue mixture to a piping bag.
• Spread 4-5 tablespoons of the fruit jam over the set custard, then pipe the meringue on top.
• Lower the oven temperature to 150C/130C Fan/Gas 2 and return the pudding to the oven (not in the roasting tin with water) for about 25-30 minutes until the meringue is pale golden all over and crisp. Serve at once with pouring cream.

MARY BERRY'S STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius (350 Fahrenheit, 160 degrees fan oven).
• To make the sponge, add the light brown sugar to a bowl together with the butter, and use a hand mixer to beat them together until creamy.
• Add the eggs one by one, beating well after each addition.
• Sift in the flour, add the bicarb of soda, baking powder, milk and treacle, and beat well to get a smooth batter.
• Butter a baking dish (mine is 27x21 cm, 11 x 8.5 inches), and pour the batter in, levelling it well.
• Bake for 30 minutes until the sponge is well risen, and a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean.
• Remove from the oven, and allow it to cool for 10-15 minutes.
• To make the sauce, cut the butter into cubes, and add it to a pan set over a low to medium heat.
• Add the light brown sugar, and mix so the butter can melt.
• Pour in the milk, treacle and vanilla extract, and whisk well to get a smooth sauce.
• Once it comes to a boil, let it bubble up for a minute, then remove it from the heat.
• Pour half of the sauce over the warm sponge, and reserve the rest of the sauce of serving with the cake.

EASY JAM SPONGE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Butter a 25cm square or 20 x 30cm rectangular cake tin or baking dish.
• Beat the butter, sugar, flour, eggs and vanilla extract together until smooth. Spread the jam over the base of the tin, and dollop over the cake batter. Spread over evenly. Bake for 20-25 mins until the sponge is light golden and risen, and a skewer inserted into the middle comes back clean. Serve warm with custard, cream or ice cream.

STEAMED JAM PUDDING

Steps:

• Grease a pudding steamer or basin (8 cup capacity).
• Spoon jam into the based of the steamer.
• Beat butter, essence and sugar in small bowl with electric mixer until light and fluffy, beat in eggs 1 at a time, beat until combined.
• Transfer mixture to large bowl, stir in sifted flour and milk in 2 batches.
• Spread mixture into steamer, cover with greased foil, secure with string or lid.
• Place steamer in large saucepan with enough boiling water to come half way up the side of steamer; boil, covered, about 1 1/2 hours or until firm. Replenish water as necessary.
• When cooked, run a knife around the edge and then invert carefully onto a large plate. The jam will spill over the entire pudding and look very pretty.
• Slice and serve with custard, cream or ice-cream.