Poor Man's Pudding

There is nothing poor-tasting about this rich and tasty traditional French-Canadian dessert. Recipe courtesy Chuck Hughes

• Ready In: 50 mins
• Serves: 8

Ingredients

• Maple Sauce

• 2  cups/ 500ml pure maple syrup
• 1  cup/ 250ml 35-percent  cream
• 1⁄2  cup/ 125ml brown sugar
• 1⁄4  cup/ 60ml butter

• Batter

• 1  cup/ 250ml butter, at room temperature
• 1  cup/ 250ml sugar
• 1  tablespoon/ 15ml pure vanilla extract
• 2  cups/ 500ml all-purpose flour
• 2  teaspoons/ 10ml baking powder
• 1  pinch salt
• 1  cup/ 250ml milk
•  vanilla ice cream, for serving

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
2. For the maple sauce:
3. Bring the maple syrup, cream, brown sugar and butter to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
4. For the batter:
5. Cream the butter, sugar and vanilla in a bowl with a mixer.
6. In another bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, alternating with the milk, and beating until just combined.
7. Divide the batter among 8 ramekins. Pour the syrup over the batter. Bake until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of the pudding comes out clean, about 35 minutes.
8. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.