Microwave Sponge - Help! What have I done wrong?

Hawthorn

I add the syrup/jam/whatever after the sponge has cooked, always. It's too easy for that stuff to burn.

pavlovs_dog

did you grease the bowl first? i find that helps too.

rhiwfield

OH and DS2 recently had some caramel sponge pudding (on offer at Tesco) but as the price has gone back up to £2 for 2 small puds I thought I'd try a basic microwaved sponge pudding picking up from the OS threads, using DS2 as official taster! I like making steamed sponge pudding but the cooking time is usually too long to bother with.

Mix:
2 oz plain flour
2 oz soft marge
2 oz brown sugar
1 tsp baking powder
I egg

Container
4 small ramekin dishes, greased with marge.

Stirred the mix and divided equally between ramekin dishes. Didnt add syrup as threads had warned of burning. Covered all dishes with clingfilm (unpierced) and cooked separately

First ramekin: Microwaved 800w for 30 secs, clingfilm had been sucked down onto pud which was a bit undercooked. Pierced film and cooked for another 30 secs. DS2 verdict, nice but can still taste egg and sugar flavours

Second ramekin. Pierced film, microwaved 60 secs on 800w. Pudding had risen more and looked better. Added spoon of golden syrup. DS2 verdict; Good!

Ramekins 3 & 4, cooked as for 2 and left to cool for evening meal.

Cost? probably under 30p for 4 smallish sponges and just 4 mins cooking time

Next time, because the individual cooking time is so short, I may well try adding syrup before topping with the sponge mix.

OrkneyStar

Paulie'sGirl wrote: »

Hi all,

Spurred on by the recent thread on microwave sponges, I tried a syrup sponge for pudding this evening. All was going well, and smelt good, but when I got it out of the microwave there was no syrup left at the bottom, and the bottom of the sponge had basically burned (to a burnt toffee like taste)

What did I do wrong? I used 2oz sugar, SR flour, butter and 1 egg (cos it was just for 2 of us) and a good glug of syrup. I cooked for 3 mins on 800w

Any suggestions on where I went wrong are welcome!

(BG - please can you merge me back into the sponges thread when I've had some replies? Thank you!)

A puzzled PGxx

My bero book says if you are going to cook the sponge in the m/wave then don't add the syrup when cooking, simply pour heated syrup over the cooked sponge.
(Sorry if this has been said already, not had time to read whole thread ).
hth

Patchwork_Quilt

sb44 wrote: »

Do you put a dollop in the bottom of the bowl before you pour the sponge mix in or do you add it to the mixture?

I must give it a try whichever way you use it as I have nearly a full jar to use up.

Off topic slightly but I am really into jam tarts at the moment and you can have lemon curd tarts ... Or stir into rice pudding.

rosieben

lemon curd tarts mmmmmmmm... runs off to see if there's any lemon curd in the cupboard yep, a whole new jar :j I've never tried a lemon curd sponge pudding, I've just put it on the menu for next week, thanks :T

PasturesNew

I just tried to compare the OP's recipe/quantities against the one I use all the time http://hubpages.com/hub/Quick_and_Easy_Microwave_Steamed_Sponge_Pudding
and I am not sure what quantities the OP uses, so I couldn't compare like for like, but this recipe always works for me.

I make it in a 1 pint jug, which might mean my ingredients are deeper (protecting the syrup from burning maybe). I just chuck a lid loosely on top of the jug (I usually just use any old plastic lid from a storage container, usually one from a chinese takeaway that I've saved).

I always microwave mine for 3 minutes at 800w and they come out fine. Perfect in fact.

Microwaves are trial/error, you do have to cook things a few times to perfect them for your microwave, your dish and your tastes... but it's well worth it. Most of my cooking is in a microwave.

The only problem I've had with making a steamed pudding in the microwave is it's too easy and therefore too tempting to eat one (or more) every day

charliee_3

i love this, i've been making these for years.. in our house we call it poo-DING! (coz thats the noise the microwave makes when its ready! lol)