A winning alternative to Christmas pud. Spoons at the ready …
My family can never refuse a steamed sponge. This dates back to the first time I took them to eat at St John in London. My mum was expecting some sort of afternoon tea, I think, so when Rosy, one of the pastry chefs, sent us a massive steamed date sponge, it took her by surprise. My dad ordered a pint, my brother a coke, and we all grabbed a spoon. To this day, it’s a pudding I get asked to make on repeat, accompanied by a jug of cold cream on the side. It also offers a popular alternative to Christmas pudding.