Banana and salted-toffee pudding

Serves 6

This is a variation on one of my most popular recipes and I think people love it so much because it's impossible to muck up, no matter what you do. You can overcook it or undercook it and still it will taste delicious. Don't let the bizarre method alarm you – all that caramel topping you pour over will make it beautifully moist and create an irresistible toffee sauce.

125g/4oz plain flour
120g/4oz caster sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
1 banana, mashed
100ml/3½fl oz whole milk
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 tsp vanilla extract
85g/3¼oz unsalted butter, melted, plus extra for greasing

For the topping

140g/4½oz soft dark brown sugar
4 tbsp golden syrup
½ teaspoon salt
250ml/8fl oz boiling water

To serve

Vanilla ice-cream

Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas4. Combine the flour, sugar and baking powder in a bowl.

Add the mashed banana, milk, egg, vanilla and butter and whisk well. Pour into a greased 2½ litre/4 pint ovenproof dish.

To make the topping, place the sugar, golden syrup, salt and water in a small pan and bring to the boil.

Carefully pour over the pudding and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until firm to the touch. Serve immediately with vanilla ice-cream.