Golden Syrup Dumplings

Ingredients (serves 6)

• 3/4 cup (155g) brown sugar
• 1/3 cup (80ml) golden syrup
• 100g butter
• 1 1/2 cups (225g) self-raising flour
• 3/4 cup (185ml) milk

Method

1. Combine 2 cups (500ml) water, brown sugar, 1/4 cup (60ml) golden syrup and 50g butter in a large saucepan. Stir over a low heat until melted.
2. Meanwhile, use your fingertips to rub in 50g butter into flour. Combine milk and 1 tbs golden syrup. Stir into the flour mixture until well combined.
3. Bring the sauce to the boil then drop heaped dessert spoonfuls of the mixture into the sauce. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, covered for 15-20 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean. Serve with ice cream.

Ingredients (serves 4)

• 225g (1 1/2 cups) self-raising flour
• 50g (2 1/2 tbs) butter, chilled
• 125ml (1/2 cup) thin cream
• 1 tbs golden syrup
• 1 egg, at room temperature
• Vanilla ice-cream, to serve

• sauce

• 500ml (2 cups) water
• 125ml (1/2 cup) golden syrup
• 100g (1/2 cup, firmly packed) brown sugar
• 40g (2 tbs) butter

Method

1. Sift the flour into a large bowl. Use your fingertips to rub in the butter until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Make a well in the centre.
2. Combine the cream, golden syrup and egg. Add to the dry ingredients and use a wooden spoon to mix until well combined.
3. To make the sauce, place the water, golden syrup, sugar and butter in a large saucepan. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat to high and bring to the boil, then reduce heat to medium.
4. Add heaped dessertspoonsful of dough to the sauce. Simmer, covered, for 15-20 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the centre of the dumplings comes out clean.
5. Divide the dumplings among serving bowls. Spoon the sauce over and serve immediately with the ice-cream.