Poor-Man's Pudding

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Make a syrup from the first four ingredients, bringing them to a boil. Set aside. For the dough, cream butter with sugar. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt into butter mixture; add milk. Pour syrup into a 13x9-inch pan, then drop dough over the syrup. Bake for 30 minutes.