Name: Honeyed pears with ginger sponge
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 3 pears; 90 gram honey; 50 gram butter; 150 gram softened butter; 130 gram caster sugar; 3 eggs; 1/2 teaspoon fresh ginger, finely grated; 1 teaspoon lemon zest; 150 gram plain flour; 1 3/4 teaspoon baking powder; 1 teaspoon ground ginger; custard, cream or ice cream, to serve

Honeyed pears with ginger sponge

This sponge pudding by Nici Wickes brings such comfort and pears with ginger is a great combination that is brilliant served with lots of runny custard, cream or ice cream – or all three!

Ingredients

3 pears

90 gram honey

50 gram butter

150 gram softened butter

130 gram caster sugar

3 eggs

1/2 teaspoon fresh ginger, finely grated

1 teaspoon lemon zest

150 gram plain flour

1 3/4 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon ground ginger

custard, cream or ice cream, to serve

Method

1.Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease a deep ceramic pudding dish.

2.Peel and halve the pears, leaving the stalk on if you can. Remove the core with a teaspoon.

3.Gently melt the honey and butter in a heavy-based frying pan. Add the pear halves and toss them in the buttery mixture to coat. Increase the heat, then cook until golden brown and a syrup has formed – about 3-4 minutes. Pour the syrup into the ceramic dish.

4.Cream the second measure of butter with the sugar until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the grated ginger and lemon zest, then sift in the flour, baking powder and the ground ginger, mixing to combine.

5.Spoon the batter over the syrup into the prepared dish. Press the pears into the mix so the stalk ends stand upright. Bake for 45 minutes or until golden and the sponge is cooked through.

6.Serve with lots of runny custard, cream or ice cream – or all three!

Nici Wickes