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3.15 from 267 votes

Treacle Sponge Pudding with Spiced Pears & Chocolate Custard

This moist, steamed pear pudding is handsomely paired with chocolate custard, certain to comfort and please just about everyone.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time2 hours
Total Time2 hours 20 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: British
Keyword: pear sponge pudding
Servings: 8
Calories: 475kcal

Ingredients

For the pudding

  • 200 g golden syrup
  • 2 pear, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 175 g caster sugar
  • 175 g unsalted butter, softened and extra for greasing pan
  • 3 free range eggs
  • 175 g plain flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder

For the spiced pears

  • 500 ml apple juice (or sweet white wine)
  • 3 star anise
  • ½ tsp cloves
  • 1 cinnamon stick, broken into small pieces
  • 4 pears, peeled and cut into quarters
  • 1 orange, pared zest only
  • 1 lemon, pared zest

For chocolate custard (optional)

  • 2 cups milk
  • 3 tbsp custard powder
  • 3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 3 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

Make sponge pudding

  • Butter your loaf tin with butter. Arrange your pear slices at the bottom of a loaf tin, overlapping them slightly.
  • In a big bowl, beat butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time until well combined. Fold in flour and baking powder.
  • Scoop sponge mixture into your loaf tin and smooth the top.
  • Place a rectangular baking sheet on top of your loaf tin to cover the sponge mixture. Then, place an oversize rectangular aluminium foil on top of the sheet, crimping and securing the edges around the top of your loaf tin.
  • Place your loaf tin in a large sauce pan. Add water so it is halfway up the sides of your loaf tin.
  • Cover the pan with a lid, bring to boil, then reduce heat so that it is simmering. Continue to simmer sponge pudding for 1 ½ hour, covered, or until a skewer came out clean when inserted into the centre of the sponge. Check water level halfway through cooking.

Make spiced pears

  • In a sauce pan, combine apple juice, all the spices and pears. Boil for 3 to 4 minutes or until the pears are tender. Set aside.

Make chocolate custard

  • In a bowl, whisk together custard powder and cocoa powder. Pour ½ cup of milk and whisk well, making sure there are no lumps. Set aside.
  • In a bottomed sauce pan, combine the remaining milk and sugar and bring to simmer.
  • Once the milk is simmering, remove from heat and gradually stir in the custard powder mixture while continously whisking.
  • Place the sauce pan back on medium low heat, whisking continously until it thickens. This will take about 2 to 3 minutes. You know it;s ready when the mixture coats the back of your spoon.
  • Remove from heat and pour vanilla extract and stir. Pour into a bowl and place clingwrap on theexposed surface to prevent skin formation. Let mixture cool completely.

Notes

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 10
Amount per serving  
Calories 478
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 17.3g 22%
Saturated Fat 10.2g 51%
Cholesterol 96mg 32%
Sodium 184mg 8%
Total Carbohydrate 80.1g 29%
Dietary Fiber 5.2g 18%
Total Sugars 45.9g  
Protein 6.2g  
Vitamin D 15mcg 73%
Calcium 101mg 8%
Iron 2mg 9%
Potassium 312mg 7%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calorie a day is used for general nutrition advice.