Rhubarb Sponge Pudding Recipes

RHUBARB AND VANILLA SPONGE PUDDING

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180°C/fan160°C/gas 4. Slit the vanilla pod open lengthways and scrape out the seeds with the tip of a knife into a mixing bowl (save the pod for later). Add 185g of the sugar and mix them with your fingertips, then stir in the plain flour. Wipe the rhubarb stalks clean, cut into 5cm pieces, then add to the bowl and toss to coat. Leave for 20 minutes, stirring now and then, until all the pieces of fruit are coated in sticky sugar/flour mix.
• Spoon the fruit over the base of a shallow 2 litre baking dish (the shallower the dish, the quicker the sponge will cook). It will look like quite a lot of fruit, but don't worry - it collapses during cooking. Cut the reserved vanilla pod into 4 pieces and poke them in amongst the rhubarb. Cover and bake for 15 minutes.
• For the sponge topping, beat the butter and remaining 115g sugar in a mixing bowl with a wooden spoon (or an electric mixer) for about 5 minutes until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, adding a tablespoon of the self-raising flour with the second egg. Beat in the vanilla extract. Sift over the rest of the flour and a pinch of salt, then gently fold in along with the milk using a metal spoon, trying to keep the mixture as light as possible.
• Remove the dish of rhubarb from the oven, discard the vanilla pod pieces and drop small spoonfuls of the sponge mixture roughly over the top of the fruit. Don't worry about a few gaps; these will fill in as the sponge rises and cooks.
• Bake for about 35 minutes until the sponge is cooked through and crisp and brown on top. Remove the dish from the oven and leave to sit for 10 minutes. Dust the top with a little icing sugar and serve hot with cream or custard.

STICKY RHUBARB & STRAWBERRY SPONGE PUDDING

Steps:

• Lightly butter a 1.2-litre pudding basin. Mix the rhubarb, sugar and 2 tsp water in a small heatproof bowl. Cover with cling film and microwave on High for 1-1½ mins, until the rhubarb is just beginning to soften. (Alternatively, cook for 5 mins in a small saucepan, until the sugar has dissolved and the rhubarb softens slightly.) Drain rhubarb, reserving the juices, then mix the rhubarb with 4 tbsp of the strawberry conserve. Spoon into the pudding basin.
• Put all of the sponge ingredients in a large bowl, then beat with an electric whisk for 1 min until light and creamy. Spoon into the basin, taking care not to dislodge the rhubarb, then smooth the top.
• Lay a large sheet of greaseproof on top of a piece of foil the same size. Butter the paper, pleat in the middle and cover the pudding. Tie tightly with string under rim of basin, then trim, scrunching foil up around the paper to make it watertight. Place the pudding in a large saucepan on an upturned saucer. Pour justboiled water to halfway up the basin, cover, then steam for 1½ hrs. Check the water level every 30 mins or so and top up if you need to. To test when the pudding is ready, unwrap and insert a skewer into the sponge. It should come out clean with no trace of raw mixture.
• Just before serving, heat reserved rhubarb juices with the remaining conserve in a small saucepan or in the microwave until bubbling. Turn out the pud, drizzle the hot sauce over the top and enjoy with custard. To make ahead, leave the pud in its basin to cool, then recover and chill. Steam for 20 mins, or invert onto a heatproof plate and microwave on High for 5-10 mins to warm through.
• To make individual puddings: Heat the oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4 and boil the kettle. Divide the rhubarb topping between 6 lightly greased 200ml dariole moulds, then top with the sponge mixture. Smooth over the surface and loosely cover each pudding with some buttered foil, scrunching around the sides to give the sponge room to rise. Place the puddings in a deep roasting tray and pour in boiling water from the kettle until halfway up the sides of the moulds. Bake for 25-35 mins until the sponge has risen and an inserted skewer comes out clean. Serve with the extra rhubarb and strawberry syrup.

LEMON SPONGE PUDDING WITH RHUBARB SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325 degrees. Butter six 5-ounce ramekins or custard cups; coat them with 2 tablespoons sugar.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat 2 tablespoons butter, 1/4 cup sugar, salt, and zest on medium speed until well combined, 1 to 2 minutes. Add yolks; beat until creamy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add milk, lemon juice, and flour; stir to combine.
• In a separate bowl, beat egg whites to soft peaks; gradually add 1/2 cup sugar. Beat until stiff and glossy. Gently whisk in egg-yolk mixture until combined. Ladle into ramekins; place in 9-by-13-inch baking pan; fill pan halfway with hot water. Bake until puddings have set and are golden on top, 35 to 40 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Chill puddings until ready to serve, up to 2 days. To unmold puddings, dip ramekins in warm water, and run a paring knife around the edges to help loosen; unmold onto plates.
• In a medium skillet, combine rhubarb, remaining 1/4 cup sugar, and 2 tablespoons water. Cook over medium heat until rhubarb is tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer from heat; cool to room temperature. Serve with lemon sponge pudding.

RHUBARB PUDDING

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Whisk the flour, 1/2 cup of sugar, baking powder, and salt in a mixing bowl; set aside. Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
• Beat the egg, butter, and milk in a bowl until smooth. Stir in the flour mixture until moistened, then spread into the prepared baking dish. Stir together the rhubarb, 2 cups of sugar, and the water; pour into the baking dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the dough has set and the rhubarb is bubbly, about 40 minutes.

BLUSHING BETTY

Steps:

• Slice the rhubarb thickly.
• Place the rhubarb into a large saucepan, together with the sugar and water.
• Cook over medium heat until the rhubarb has softened but still retains some of its shape. Stir frequently to make sure the rhubarb is not sticking to the pan, and to gently break up the rhubarb.
• The rhubarb mixture should be relatively thin (i.e. not a thick mixture). If not, add a splash or two of water so that the rhubarb filling is more on the wet side than dry.
• Taste the rhubarb to see if you need to add more sugar.
• Pour the rhubarb into a baking dish. I generally use one which measures 23 cm/9 inches in diameter or which has a 1 litre (4 cup) capacity.
• Preheat the oven to 180°C/360°F (without fan).
• Beat the butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy.
• Add the vanilla extract.
• Beat in one egg at a time, followed by a tablespoon of the flour to prevent the batter from curdling.
• Add the remaining flour and baking powder, as well as the milk.
• Beat everything together until you have a thick and smooth batter.
• Dollop the batter on top of the rhubarb in the baking dish.
• Use a spatula or palette knife to evenly spread the batter. Don't worry about stretching the batter to completely cover the rhubarb - the batter will spread as it bakes in the oven.
• Sprinkle the batter generously with demerera sugar and flaked almonds.
• Bake the pudding on the middle shelf of the oven for 30-40 minutes, or until the pudding is lightly golden and set in the centre.
• Check the pudding at about 25 minutes to make sure it is not browning too quickly. If necessary, loosely cover it with a piece of foil.
• Serve warm with vanilla ice-cream or custard.

CITRUS SPONGE PUDDING WITH RHUBARB SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Butter four 6-ounce glass custard cups; coat with sugar. Line a baking pan with a cloth towel, and set aside.
• Make puddings: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine 2 tablespoons butter, 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar, and salt; mix on medium speed until crumbly. Mix in lemon and lime zests and egg yolks. Mix in flour, then lemon and lime juices and milk.
• In a medium bowl, beat egg whites until stiff. Gently whisk in egg-yolk mixture. Ladle into custard cups. Place cups in prepared baking pan, and fill pan halfway with hot water. Bake until puddings have set (tops may crack), about 25 minutes. Cool puddings on a wire rack, 30 minutes. Chill or let stand at room temperature.
• Meanwhile, make rhubarb sauce: In a small skillet, combine rhubarb, remaining 3 tablespoons sugar, and 1 tablespoon water; cook over medium-high heat until tender, about 4 minutes. Let cool. Invert puddings onto plates, and serve chilled or at room temperature with rhubarb sauce.

RHUBARB STEAMED PUDDING

Steps:

• Cook the rhubarb with 75g/2¾oz of the sugar and the ginger over a gentle heat for 2-3 mins until just starting to soften. Remove from heat.
• Grease a 900ml pudding basin. Put butter and remaining sugar in a bowl and cream together. Stir in vanilla extract, then beat in eggs, a little at a time. Sift in flour and carefully fold into the mixture.
• Spoon rhubarb into the bottom of the basin, then spoon the sponge mixture on top and level off surface.
• Butter a piece of greaseproof paper slightly bigger than the top of the pudding basin. Make a pleat in the centre and secure over the top of basin. Repeat with a piece of foil, then secure the whole thing with string. Place in a pan half filled with simmering water. Cover and cook for 1½ hrs, checking regularly that the pan does not boil dry. Remove cover, invert the pudding onto a plate, then carefully lift off the pudding basin. Serve with crème fraîche or single cream.