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Mary Berry Pear Pudding

Mary Berry Pear Pudding

Mary Berry’s Pear Pudding is a traditional British dessert featuring poached or fresh pears baked under a soft sponge topping. The sweetness of the pears complements the buttery sponge, creating a delightful balance of flavors. It’s often served warm with cream, custard, or ice cream.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Pear Base:

  • 4 ripe pears (peeled, cored, and halved)
  • 50g granulated sugar
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 100ml water

For the Sponge Topping:

  • 125g self-raising flour
  • 125g caster sugar
  • 125g unsalted butter (softened)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tbsp milk

For Garnish:

  • Icing sugar (optional, for dusting)

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the pears.
Peel, core, and halve the pears. Place them in a saucepan with the granulated sugar, lemon juice, and water. Simmer over medium heat for 5-7 minutes until the pears are just tender. Remove from heat and transfer the pears to a greased baking dish, arranging them in a single layer.

Step 2: Preheat the oven.
Preheat your oven to 180°C (160°C fan) or 350°F.

Step 3: Make the sponge topping.
In a mixing bowl, combine the self-raising flour, caster sugar, softened butter, eggs, vanilla extract, and milk. Beat with a hand or stand mixer until the mixture is smooth and creamy.

Step 4: Spread the sponge mixture.
Using a spatula, carefully spread the sponge mixture over the pears, ensuring they are evenly covered.

Step 5: Bake the pudding.
Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the sponge is golden brown and a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.

Step 6: Serve the pudding.
Dust the pudding with icing sugar, if desired, and serve warm with cream, custard, or vanilla ice cream.