Eve’s pudding

COOKING TIME 40 MINUTES

SERVES 4–6

450g (1lb) cooking apples, peeled, cored and chopped coarsely

75g (3oz) soft light brown sugar

100g (3½oz) unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing

100g (3½oz) caster sugar, plus extra for sprinkling

2 eggs

100g (3½oz) self-raising flour, sifted

Grated zest of 1 unwaxed lemon

¼ tsp vanilla essence

Cream or custard, to serve

PREHEAT THE OVEN TO 180°C (350°F), Gas Mark 4 and grease a 1.5-litre (2½-pint) ovenproof baking dish. Put the apples into the baking dish and sprinkle with the brown sugar; mix together lightly.

IN A MIXING BOWL, cream together the butter and caster sugar until pale and fluffy, then work in the eggs, sifted flour, lemon zest and vanilla essence and mix to a soft batter. Spread this over the apples in the dish and bake for 40 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle the surface with caster sugar. Serve immediately with cream or custard.