Gooey toffee puddings

Ingredients

·         140g softened butter , plus extra for greasing

·         200g light muscovado sugar

·         3 large eggs , beaten

·         175g self-raising flour

·         cream  or ice cream, to serve (optional)

For the sauce

·         75g light muscovado sugar

·         75g dark muscovado sugar

·         75g butter ·        

150ml double cream

Method

1.    Lightly grease 8 mini metal pudding basins that each hold around 200ml. Place a small disc of baking parchment in the base of each one.

2.    To make the sauce, put the sugars and butter in a small saucepan and cook over a low heat until the butter melts and the sauce is glossy, stirring regularly. Add the cream and bring to a simmer. Cook for 1 min, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat and divide between the pudding basins. Leave to cool for 30 mins.

3.    Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Beat the butter, sugar, eggs and flour together in a large bowl with a wooden spoon or electric whisk until pale and thick. Spoon the mixture into the pudding basins and place them in a small roasting tin.

4.    Add cold water to the roasting tin until it rises just 1cm up the sides of the basins. Place the tin in the oven and bake for about 25 mins or until well risen and a skewer inserted comes out clean.

5.    Take the tin out of the oven and, one at a time and holding firmly with a dry tea towel, loosen the sides of each pudding with a round-bladed knife. Turn out onto 8 warmed dessert plates, or arrange on a platter. Serve hot with cream or ice cream, if you like.