Caramel Dried Fruit Pudding

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C and grease a 20cm round oven dish.
2. Place the mixed dried fruit in a small bowl and cover with boiling water. Soak the fruit for 15 minutes. Drain the water and allow the fruit to cool for a few minutes, then chop.
3. Sift the flour and baking powder into a bowl. Stir in the brown sugar. Add the chopped fruit and toss together.
4. In a separate bowl use a fork to whisk the golden syrup, butter, egg, vanilla essence and milk together. Pour into the dry ingredients and stir to combine. Pour the mixture into the oven dish.
5. To make the sauce, combine the brown sugar and cornflour in a small bowl. Gradually add the boiling water and mix until smooth and the sugar has dissolved. Carefully pour the sauce over the back of a spoon onto the pudding mixture.
6. Bake for 45 minutes, or until the pudding is baked through. Allow to stand for 5 minutes before dishing up. Serve warm with custard or ice cream.

Sticky, soft and soul-warming—this nostalgic pudding is pure comfort on a cold day.