Nigella Lawson's microwave syrup sponge pudding is 'ridiculously light' - recipe The recipe serves four, takes just six minutes to cook and requires just eight ingredients.

A simple microwave chocolate orange sponge that makes a fantastic pudding. Top with melted orange-flavoured chocolate and serve with cream or ice cream.

Jamie Oliver's microwave steamed treacle pudding is 'beautiful' and 'sticky' - recipe Jamie Oliver's recipe serves eight and cooks in just 30 minutes. The TV chef has rated the recipe "super easy".

A comfort pudd, especially with the Crème Anglaise/Vanilla Custard recipe below!

A classic nursery favourite that is the perfect pudding on a cold winter night - cooked in minutes in the microwave.

Nigella Lawson shares recipe for 'ridiculously light' microwave syrup sponge pudding This recipe from Nigella Lawson takes 15 minutes to prepare and six minutes to cook ...

What is it with telly chefs and microwaves? There’s Nigella Lawson’s much-memed pronunciation of the word. There’s Mary Berry’s lost-to-time microwave cookbook from 1988 (yes, really). And ...

2. Cover filled pudding basin with a loosely secured microwave-safe plastic film or pleated Bakewell paper tied with string. Cook on full power for 6 minutes or until puffed and well-risen.

For beginners, the sponge rather than suet crust is a less daunting bellyful. So, fly the flag for tradition and start buttering that basin.

If you didn't want to use suet in a steamed pudding, there is one more option: Find a recipe that does not use it, such as my cranberry pudding below.