An Australian dessert favourite, these light and fluffy banana dumplings cooked in a rich, caramel sauce require minimum effort for maximum comfort.

Preparation and cook time: 35 mins | Serves: Six

Ingredients

Banana dumplings

• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 ½ cups self-raising flour
• 50g butter (chilled), chopped
• ⅓ cup milk
• 1 egg
• 1 banana, sliced into 1cm pieces
• A block of chocolate broken into small chunks

Sauce

• 1 cup golden syrup
• 2 cups of water
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• 30g butter

To serve

• Vanilla ice-cream / gelato

Method

1. 1. In a bowl, sift flour, add cinnamon, then rub in the butter with fingertips to the consistency of breadcrumbs then make a well in the centre.
   2. Mix in eggs and gradually add milk until combined.
   3. Dust hands in flour then roll dough into a small ball.
   4. Poke a hole in the ball to add a sliced banana and chocolate piece in the middle, then roll back into a ball.
   5. In a large saucepan, over low to medium heat, add all the ingredients for the sauce and stir until sugar dissolves.
   6. Bring to the boil then reduce heat to a gentle simmer.
   7. Place balls into the syrup then simmer, covered, for about 15 minutes until cooked through. Dumplings will double in size.
   8. Remove and serve dumplings with remaining sauce and ice-cream.