Burst Of Citrus Sponge Pudding Recipes

SCHOOL DAYS CITRUS PUDDING

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Grease a medium-sized oval baking dish (we used 22 x 18cm) with butter. Combine the butter, caster sugar and zest in a food processor and whizz until the mixture is pale. Add the citrus juice, egg yolks, flour and milk, and whizz until well mixed - it may look a little curdled. Scrape into a bowl. Boil the kettle.
• In a large, clean bowl, whisk the egg whites until firm but not stiff, then gently fold into the zesty mixture. Scrape into the baking dish and put in a roasting tin half-filled with hot water from the kettle. Bake for 35-40 mins until the top is lightly browned and set, but the pudding is still soft-ish underneath. Serve dusted with icing sugar, if you like.

STICKY CITRUS SPONGE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Finely grate the zest from 2 oranges into a large bowl. Cut the peel and pith from all the oranges with a serrated knife, and slice quite thickly.
• Drizzle the golden syrup evenly over the base of a greased 23cm round cake tin. There is no need to line the tin and it shouldn't have a loose bottom otherwise the syrup will bubble through. Arrange the best orange slices on top of the syrup and finely chop any that don't fit.
• Put all the remaining ingredients in the bowl with the zest and chopped orange. Beat with an electric hand mixer until smooth. Spoon on top of the oranges, spread lightly and make a deep hollow in the centre of the mix with the back of a spoon - this will ensure that the cake rises evenly.
• Bake for 45-50 mins until firm when pressed. Allow to settle for 5 mins before turning out. Drizzle with golden syrup if you like, and serve with custard or ice cream.

LEMON DRIZZLE SPONGE PUDDING

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Butter a 30 x 20cm deep baking dish.
• Put the butter and 250g caster sugar in a bowl and beat for 5 mins until pale and fluffy. Whisk in the eggs, then sieve over the flour and baking powder and fold in until you have a batter. Stir in the lemon zest, reserving a little for decoration.
• Spoon the sponge batter into the dish and smooth over the top.
• Mix the lemon juice with the cornflour in a heatproof bowl to make a smooth paste. Mix the remaining 130g caster sugar with 300ml boiling water in a jug, pour over the cornflour mix and whisk until smooth. Pour this over the sponge. Bake for 45-50 mins until golden and set, and the sponge springs back when touched.
• While the pudding is baking, make the lemon drizzle. Mix the icing sugar with enough lemon juice (about half of it) to create a loose consistency. Drizzle over the sponge while it's still warm and decorate with the reserved lemon zest. Serve straightaway with cream or custard.

CHRISTMAS PUDDING WITH CITRUS & SPICE

Steps:

• Mix the fruit, almonds, citrus zests and the carrot with the brandy and orange liqueur in a large mixing bowl. Cover and leave to soak overnight.
• Mix all the dry ingredients together, then add to the soaked fruit mixture. Grate in the butter, then add the eggs and stir. Don't forget to make a wish!
• Grease a 1.5-litre pudding basin with butter and line the base with greaseproof paper. Spoon in the mixture, press down well and make a hollow with the back of the spoon in the centre. Cover the surface with a round of greaseproof paper, then cover the bowl with double-thickness greaseproof paper and foil and tie at the rim with string. Lower the pudding into a pan with an upturned saucer in the base, then fill with water until it comes halfway up the sides of the bowl. Steam for 6 hrs, topping up with water as necessary.
• Alternatively, steam in the oven. Stand the pudding basin in a roasting tin filled with water, then cover with a tent of foil and cook for the same length of time at 160C/fan 140C/gas 3. Check roasting tin occasionally as the water may need to be topped up.
• To store, allow to cool, then store in a cool, dry cupboard. The pudding will keep for up to a year.
• On the day, steam for 1 hr before turning out, decorating with holly and serving with extra-thick double cream or vanilla ice cream. Alternatively, try my Orange custard cream (below).

BURST OF CITRUS SPONGE PUDDING

Steps:

• Fill a large roasting pan 1/2-inch high with hot tap water and set into the center of your oven.
• Turn oven on to 350 F and let it preheat while the water bath is still in there.
• Carefully separate eggs into whites and yolks.
• In a large bowl, beat egg whites on high speed until foamy, then gradually beat in just 1/4 cup of the sugar until stiff peaks form.
• In another bowl, beat egg yolks, remaining sugar, butter, flour, lemon& orange zests and beat on high for 3 minutes (scraping down the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed to make sure all batter gets combined well).
• On low speed, slowly add juices and milk to the butter mixture,just until blended.
• Fold in egg whites by hand and mix very gently until no white streaks remain.
• Pour into a shallow oval pan (about 2-quart capacity) and set carefully into the baking pan with the hot water in the oven.
• Bake 55-60 minutes until top is puffed and lightly golden.
• Remove pan from water bath and let cool on rack.
• Dust with powdered sugar and serve warm or chilled.