A BIG WARM HUG

Nothing beats a delicious dessert on a cold winter evening

There are very few things more comforting that a warm, sweet bowl of pudding. These classic self-saucing desserts are so simple to make you can whip them up on a whim at the last moment. To finish off, serve with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream and everyone will be happy.

Golden winter pudding

Serves 4 This is a wonderfully simple pudding using golden syrup. Make it in a family-sized dish or in individual ramekins to give everyone their own personal pudding. 75g butter, plus extra for greasing 75g sugar

75g self raising flour

1 egg

1 Tbsp milk

100g golden syrup 1 Lightly grease a mould, a small pudding basin, or 4 ramekins with a little butter. Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and fold in the flour and milk. Pour the golden syrup into the bottom of the pudding basin or mould.

2 Carefully spoon the pudding batter on top of the golden syrup, spreading the mixture evenly. Cover and seal the top of the pudding basin with baking paper tied into place with string ( or you can use tin foil).

3 Place the pudding basin in a large pot of simmering water. Ensure the water comes halfway up the side of the basin, put the lid on and steam for 30-40 minutes. If you are using ramekins, heat an oven to 160C and place the ramekins in a deep oven tray. Pour warm water around them so that it comes halfway up the ramekins and bake for 20 minutes.

4 Serve with vanilla bean ice cream and whipped cream. OR, CHANGE IT UP: Lemon golden pudding: Grate the rind of one small lemon and add to the batter with the milk and flour. Ginger golden pudding: Add 1 tsp of ground ginger with the flour and milk.

Nutty golden pudding: Add chopped walnuts to the bottom of the greased mould before you pour in the golden syrup.