Tutti-frutti pudding

This moist steamed banana sponge, studded with fruits and topped with a gorgeous lemony syrup, is a traditional treat that everyone will love.

Ingredients
Butter or margarine, for greasing
4tbsp golden syrup
2tbsp fresh white breadcrumbs
Juice and finely grated zest of 2 lemons
150g butter or margarine, softened
150g light brown sugar
2 large eggs, beaten
175g self-raising flour
1 large, ripe banana, peeled and mashed
50g ready-to-eat dried apricots, chopped
50g glace cherries, chopped
50g sultanas
Custard, to serve

Preparation

Step1,
Grease a 1.5 liter pudding basin. Heat the syrup in a small pan until just softened and stir in the breadcrumbs along with the juice and zest of one of the lemon. Pour into the basin. Set aside.

Step2,
In a mixing bowl, beat together the butter and sugar until creamy and pale. Gradually stir in the eggs and 2tbsp of the flour. Sieve the remaining flour into the bowl and fold in using a large metal spoon.

Step3,
Carefully fold in the banana, apricots, cherries, sultanas and the juice & the zest of remaining lemon. Spoon the mixture into the basin and smooth the top.

Step4,
Fold a pleat in the middle of a square of baking parchment and put on top of the basin. Cover with a sheet of foil with a pleat in the middle. Secure in place with string. Tie an extra length of string across the top to make a handle.

Step5,
Put the pudding in a steamer placed over a pan of simmering water. Alternatively, stand the basin on a trivet or upturned saucer in a large pan, pour in boiling water until it covers half the basin and bring to the boil. Cover and simmer for 2 and half hours, topping up with boiling water if necessary, until the pudding has risen and is firm to the touch.

Step6,
Carefully lift the basin from the pan and remove foil and paper. Run a knife around the edge of the pudding and turn it out onto a warmed serving plate. Serve with custard.

Serves 8
Preparation time 20 minutes.
Cooking time 2.5 hours
Fat per serving 20g
Calories per serving 380