Baked bramley apples with pecans & golden syrup

A simple pudding that's great for children and developed by celebrity television chef Phil Vickery

Preparation: 10 mins
Cooking: 25 mins
Serves: 4

What you need:

4 medium Bramley apples
70g (2½ oz) pecan nuts
55g (2 oz) unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
4 tbsp golden syrup
600ml (1 pint) custard

What you do:

Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6 and grease an ovenproof dish. Wash the apples well and remove the cores - press the corer halfway through one side of each apple, then remove, turn the apple over and push the corer right through that side, then twist and take out the core. Using a sharp knife, make a cut just through the skin going completely around the widest part of the apples.
Place the apples in the dish, they should fit quite snugly, and push half the pecans into the hollows. Add the butter cubes to the hollows, then top up with the rest of the pecans and drizzle in the golden syrup. Bake in the oven for about 25 minutes, or until the apples just start to split and slightly puff up - they will look and smell great, but do not overcook. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for about 15-20 minutes otherwise they will burn your mouth, I promise they will be worth the wait!
Meanwhile, heat up the custard in a pan. Serve apples in deep bowls with lashings of custard and spoon over the buttery juices from the baking dish.

Cook's tip:

This was the first pudding I made at college, so it’s here for sentimental reasons, but with the addition of golden syrup and pecans. It’s a simple dish that’s great for a cold winter’s day.

Copyright Phil Vickery

Bramley Apples

The Bramley is rightly recognised by professional chefs and home cooks alike as the best apple for cooking. Grown only in Britain, the Bramley’s unique qualities make it one of the most versatile ingredients, equally at home in a savoury stir fry as a traditional apple pie.

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German apple cake

German cuisine includes a wide range of cakes and tarts, often made with fresh fruits, like strawberries, plums, cherries and apples. Those in the know, who have access to Bramleys, choose them.