where am I?
Pineapple Upside-Down Pudding
Answer
Dear Jill
AGA COOKERY DOCTOR`S EASY PINEAPPLE-UPSIDE-DOWN PUDDING
Here I have a simple recipe for you to try which is popular with children and adults alike. It is best served hot or warm, with plenty of custard or single cream. I have never encountered a recipe for a cake version, but this is based on a simple sponge, so I am sure it will go down well.
Base
2 oz (50g) butter, softened
2 oz (50g) soft dark brown sugar
8 oz (227g) tin of pineapple rings
2 oz (50g) glacé cherries
All-in-one Sponge
4 oz (100g) soft margarine
4 oz (100g) caster sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp vanilla extract
6 oz (175g) self-raising flour
2-3 tbsp milk
Butter a 7 inch (18cm) deep sandwich tin, spreading it lightly around the sides and more generously on the base. Drain the pineapple rings using a sieve over a bowl, reserving the liquid. Sprinkle the sugar over evenly. Arrange the pineapple rings in a pattern in the sugar and halve enough cherries to fill each hole, placing the cut surface uppermost. (If in a hurry, instead of the butter and sugar, you can cheat and line the tin with a disk of Bake-O-Glide or baking parchment and pour in golden syrup to a 1/4 inch (5mm) depth - certainly this was traditionally the usual ploy in most school kitchens; I share this in case you are trying to re-create your childhood school favourite!).
Mix together all the ingredients except the milk: beat hard by hand for 2 minutes or mix for 30 seconds in a KitchenAid or food processor, then scrape down and give it a further 10 second blitz. Add enough milk to give a smooth dropping consistency. Spread evenly over the pineapple rings.
2 oven Aga
ROASTING OVEN: Bake on a grid shelf on the floor of the oven with a cold plain shelf on the second set of runners above for 25-35 minutes.
3 or 4 oven Aga
BAKING OVEN: Bake on a grid shelf on the third set of runners down for 25-35 minutes.
The pudding is cooked when the top is firm and golden and the pudding is shrinking slightly from the sides of the tin. Test the centre of the sponge with a clean knife. If it appears to be at all under-cooked, transfer to the Simmering Oven for a further 10-20 minutes. Remove from the oven and leave for 2-3 minutes before inverting onto a warm plate, leaving the tin in position. Keep hot in the Simmering Oven until ready to serve.
Easy Pineapple Sauce
10 fl oz (300ml) reserved pineapple juice/syrup
2-3 tsp arrowroot
caster sugar
lemon juice
Slake the arrowroot in a cup with a little of the cold juice, and whisk into the remainder heating in a small pan on the Simmering Plate. Cook until the sauce is simmering and has become transparent. If juice and not syrup was used, add a little caster sugar to taste. A little lemon juice may also improve the flavour.
Remove the tin carefully from the pudding, spoon over a little of the sauce and serve the remainder separately, together with far too much custard or single cream.
VARIATIONS
Chocolate Pear Pudding
Use tinned pears (you will need a tin half as big again to yield enough fruit) and substitute 1 oz (25g) of sieved cocoa for 1 oz (25g) of the flour when making the sponge.
Ginger and Apricot Pudding
Use tinned apricots (you will need a tin half as big again to yield enough fruit), replace the cherries with pieces of preserved stem ginger. Also add 1/2 tsp of ground ginger to the sponge mixture. Incorporate a few tablespoons of the preserved ginger syrup or add a little ginger wine when making the sauce.
Enjoy!
Best Wishes
Richard Maggs
THE AGA COOKERY DOCTOR
Related articles
-
Question Dear Richard, While on holiday in Brittany we visited Pont Aven. We bought a delicious local cake there but I don`t know the name and I`d love to find a recipe. It was rather like a danish pastry dough but very buttery,
-
Question Judy Elkins whats to know: I have recently moved and am now a new owner of an Aga. We have a number of Bramley apple trees and would like to know how to do the perfect baked apple. Many thanks Answer Richard Responds:
-
Basic Cookware Kit for Aga Cookers
Question Dear Richard, We are in the process of moving to a house which has an Aga and need some advice on cookware. What do you suggest is the basic kit we need for cooking on an Aga, having never used one before? Many thanks
-
Question Dear Richard, I am waiting for my first `Aga` to be installed in the next few weeks (a re-conditioned two-oven model). It will arrive with shelves, large and small roasting pans and the toaster. I already have a
-
Question Richard Can you tell me what Lamb Henry is please? <br>Thank you<br>Michael Smith Answer Dear Michael LAMB HENRY Lamb Henry is a delicious casserole. It is important to include the pieces of bone
Question
Richard I would like an easy recipe for pineapple upside down cake. I have attempted two different recipes - they failed or I did. Thank you Jill Kelley