[Cooking with Her Excellency]Pouding chomeur (maple syrup cake)

Ingredients:

. 1/4 cup sugar

. 1/2 cup brown sugar

. 6 tablespoons salted butter, at room temperature

. 3/4 cup milk

. 1½ cups plain flour

. 2 teaspoons baking powder

. 1 cup maple syrup

. 2/3 cup water

. 1/2 tablespoon vanilla

. Optional: vanilla ice cream

Preparation:

1. For batter, cream 3 tablespoons of butter in a bowl and then add sugar.

2. In a separate bowl, combine flour and baking powder. Stir into butter mixture, adding in milk. Set aside.

3. For sauce, melt the remaining butter in a saucepan; stir in brown sugar and maple syrup.

4. Add water and vanilla. Bring to a boil.

5. Pour syrup into a baking dish. Drop batter in large spoonfuls onto the layer of syrup.

6. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes.

7. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, if desired.