Apple dumpling puddle pudding

1 . Stage

Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Melt the butter, sugar and golden syrup in a pan with 100ml water. Bring to a simmer, add the apples and cook for 10-15 mins until they’re starting to soften – it will be quite saucy. Add a generous pinch of salt, taste and check the balance, adding more if you like. If your pan isn’t ovenproof, pour into a baking dish about 20 x 30cm, or two smaller ones.

2 . Stage

Tip the flour into a bowl. Mix with the baking powder, sugar, cinnamon and a pinch of salt. Rub the butter into the mixture with your fingertips until it resembles damp sand. Add the milk, stir with a cutlery knife until it starts to clump together, then use your hands to bring the dough together, picking up any flaky bits. Don’t overwork it or your dumplings will be heavy. Divide into 12 golf ball-sized pieces and roll into dumplings. Arrange over the apples, leaving little gaps here and there. Sprinkle with a little extra sugar (brown or caster) and bake for 25 mins until the dumplings are puffed up and golden. Let rest for a few mins and serve with plenty of cold cream.