You will need 8 x 175ml pudding basins, well buttered, and a baking sheet.

1. Preheat the oven to 180ºC, gas mark 4
2. First of all, place the pieces of stem ginger in a mini chopper and turn the motor on for a few seconds. Be careful not to process for too long – the ginger should be chopped small, but not puréed!
3. After that, sift the flour, spices, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda into a mixing bowl. Then add the egg, butter and sugar. Using an electric hand whisk, whisk everything together gradually, adding 75ml warm water until you have a smooth mixture. Then fold in the stem ginger and chop the apple in the mini chopper and fold that in too.
4. Now divide the mixture between the buttered pudding basins, stand them on a baking sheet and bake in the centre of the oven for 35 minutes, or until they feel firm and springy to the touch.
5. To make the sauce, all you do is gently melt together the sugar and butter until all the granules of sugar have completely dissolved, then whisk in the ginger wine and brandy and add the chopped ginger.
6. When the puddings are cooked, remove them from the oven and let them stand for about 5 minutes, put the sauce back over the heat, then run a small palette knife around the edges of the tins and turn them out onto warmed plates. Spoon the hot ginger wine and brandy sauce all over them. Serve with chilled pouring cream.