Golden Syrup Buttermilk Pikelets with Berry Compote and Vanilla Cream

Method

1. Put the berries, sugar and lemon juice in a small 16 cm saucepan over medium heat. When it bubbles, turn down to medium-low heat and cook for 7 min, stirring now and then, until some berries burst and the syrup coats the back of a spoon. Take off the heat and let it cool; it thickens further as it cools.

   Add in this stepFrozen mixed berries 150 gSugar 20 gLemon (juice) ¼

   medium heat→medium-low heat

2. Mix the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a bowl. Melt 60% of the butter with the golden syrup in the microwave for about 20 seconds (warm, not hot), then whisk it into the buttermilk and egg (for one serving, beat 1 egg and use half). Pour into the dry mix and fold with a spatula just until no dry flour shows; small lumps are fine. Leave for 15 min: the buttermilk and soda react, so the batter puffs and thickens.

   Add in this stepPlain flour 90 gBaking soda (bicarbonate of soda) ½ tspBaking powder ¾ tspSalt 1 pinchButter (for the batter and pan) 15 gGolden syrup (or honey) 1½ tbspButtermilk (or milk soured with lemon juice) 140 mlEgg 1

3. Whip the cold cream with the vanilla and icing sugar for 2 min, until it holds soft peaks. Stop there; over-whipped cream turns grainy and buttery. Keep it in the fridge until serving.

   Add in this stepCream for whipping 100 mlVanilla extract ½ tspIcing sugar 2 tsp

4. Preheat a heavy 26 cm frying pan over medium-low heat for a good 3 minutes, then wipe it thinly with butter on paper towel. Drop the batter in tablespoonfuls to make 6–7 cm rounds and cook for 1 min 30 sec, until popped bubbles leave little holes, then flip and cook for 1 min. Golden syrup browns quickly, so don't turn the heat up; cook in batches, re-buttering the pan lightly each time.

   Add in this stepButter (for the batter and pan) 10 g

   medium-low heat

5. Stack the warm pikelets three at a time, add a spoonful of vanilla cream and spoon over the berry compote. Serve straight away; keep earlier batches under a tea towel so they stay soft.