Dark Chocolate And Cherry Christmas Pudding Recipes

CHOCOLATE & CHERRY CHRISTMAS PUDDING

Steps:

• Drain the cherries in a sieve over a bowl. Cut them in half. Peel the pear, then grate it coarsely.
• In a large bowl, combine the cherries, pear, the raisins, sultanas and brandy. Stir well and cover with clingfilm.
• Heat in the microwave on high for 3 mins, then leave to cool for 5 mins to let the fruit plump up. Break the chocolate into squares while you wait.
• Tip the chocolate and butter into the hot fruit. Stir, then leave to melt. Let it cool, uncovered, for about 15 mins.
• Meanwhile, rub 1 tbsp butter around the inside of a 1-litre pudding basin.
• Lay two sheets of foil over each other and butter the one on top. Holding both sheets together, fold a 3cm pleat across the middle of the foil and set aside.
• Beat the eggs together in a small bowl. Sift the flour, sugar, mixed spice and cocoa powder on top of the chocolatey fruit, then add the breadcrumbs, eggs and ¼ tsp salt.
• Stir everything together with a wooden spoon - it will be quite a wet mixture. Tip it into the buttered basin.
• Cover the pudding with the buttered foil (buttery-side down), and scrunch it over the edge of the basin. Tie string tightly under the lip of the basin, and make a string handle to help you lower the basin in and out of the saucepan later.
• Trim the foil so that a frill of about 5cm is left sticking out, then tuck the frill up and under itself neatly. The aim is to keep the pudding watertight beneath.
• Put a heatproof saucer into the very large saucepan, then put the basin on top. Pour in just-boiled water to come halfway up the basin.
• Cover the pan and steam the pudding for 2½ hrs. Test the pudding is cooked by inserting a skewer through the foil - if there is any wet mixture, steam for 15 mins more then check again.The pan should be simmering rather than boiling hard. Top up the water levels as it cooks, if you need to.
• To store, let the pudding cool and leave in a cool dark place to mature. Don't unwrap the foil. You can make this pudding up to two months before eating.
• To reheat, steam in a pan for 30 mins, or microwave on medium for 5 mins. Remove the foil to microwave, covering with clingfilm instead.
• For the sauce, break the chocolate into squares. Put all the ingredients in a small pan and heat gently, stirring, until smooth. Serve the pudding topped with any remaining cherries, the sauce and a dollop of double cream.

CHOCOLATE CHERRY BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• For the pudding: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a medium pot add the cream, milk, liquid from the cherries, maple syrup and salt and bring to a boil.
• In a separate bowl crack and whisk the eggs. In a larger bowl add the dark chocolate.
• Pour the warm liquid into the dark chocolate and whisk until the chocolate has melted. Slowly whisk in the eggs. Mix in the diced baguette and let it sit for 30 minutes.
• Place a cherry into each of eight 4-ounce ramekins, then fill the ramekins with the bread pudding mixture.
• Place ramekins on a baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes.
• For the brandy whipped cream: Whip the cream, brandy and granulated sugar until it holds stiff peaks. Serve the puddings topped with the cream.

DARK CHOCOLATE AND CHERRY CHRISTMAS PUDDING

Steps:

• Mix together the dried fruit, treacle, olive oil, apple and whiskey and leave for at least 4 hours , or overnight if possible.
• Mix all dry ingredients together.
• Add the egg to the soaked fruit and mix well.
• Finally add the dry ingredients and mix well, but do not over-mix.
• Place the mixture in a pudding basin, 617cm (6 1/2 in) in diameter and 9cm (3 1/2 in) deep, and cover with a circle of greaseproof paper.
• Place a large piece of foil on top of a large piece of greaseproof paper, then fold in the centre to make a pleat.
• Place the pleated papers on top of the pudding basin and use a long piece of string to tightly tie just below the rim of the basin.
• With an extra piece of string, tie a long loop across the top, you can use this as a handle to help lower and lift the pudding in and out of the pan.
• Place a heatproof sauce in the bottom of a large saucepan and sit the pudding on top.
• Fill the pan with enough boiling water to come halfway up the side of the basin, then cover with a tightly fitting lid.
• Bring the water to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer gently for 4-5 hours.
• Check the water every couple of hours, and add extra boiling water as necessary to maintain the water level until the pudding had cooked.
• Serve with clotted cream.

DARK CHOCOLATE PUDDING

Steps:

• Mix 1/2 cup sugar and flour together in a small bowl.
• Mix remaining sugar and egg in another bowl. Add to flour mixture and mix together.
• Heat milk in a heavy saucepan over medium-low heat until warm, about 5 minutes; do not let boil. Stir sugar mixture into milk and cook over medium-high heat until it starts to bubble, about 5 minutes, stirring quickly the entire time to ensure it doesn't burn. Let bubble for at least 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in chocolate and vanilla extract until smooth.
• Pour pudding into serving bowls, cover, and refrigerate for 8 hours, to overnight.

CHRISTMAS PUD CHOCOLATE COINS

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet or tray with baking parchment. Trace 10-12 circles onto the parchment using a 5cm biscuit cutter or cup, then flip the parchment over.
• Melt the dark chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water, making sure the bowl isn't touching the water. Or, melt in 20-second bursts in the microwave. Remove from the heat and leave to cool slightly.
• Spoon the dark chocolate into the circle templates and smooth flat with the back of the spoon. Each circle should be about 5mm thick. Leave to cool completely.
• Melt the white chocolate in the same way as you did the dark and leave to cool slightly. Dot teaspoons of the white chocolate over the top half of the dark chocolate circles. Use a cocktail stick to help it cover the top half of the circle, then gently push it towards the middle to create 'drips'.
• Decorate with two or three pieces of glacé cherry at the top. Leave to cool. Will keep for a week in an airtight container in a cool place.

CHOCOLATE-COVERED CHERRY PUDDING CAKE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat the sour cream, oil, butter and vanilla until blended. Combine the flour, sugars, cocoa, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Add to sour cream mixture just until combined. Stir in cherries and chips. Pour into a 3-qt. slow cooker coated with cooking spray., In a small bowl, combine brown sugar and cocoa. Stir in hot water until blended. Pour over the batter (do not stir). Cover and cook on high for 2 to 2-1/2 hours or until set. Let stand for 15 minutes. If desired, dust servings with confectioners' sugar.

DARK CHOCOLATE & CHERRY BAR

Steps:

• Line a 20cm square baking tin with a strip of baking parchment - leave an overhang as this will help lift everything out of the tin later. Scatter the amaretti biscuits over the base of the tin and set aside.
• Tip the chocolate into a heatproof bowl and pour the cream into a saucepan. Bring the cream to the boil, then pour it over the chocolate and stir until completely melted. Pour the mixture over the biscuits, then tap the tin to even out. Cover with cling film and chill in the fridge for at least 4 hrs (or up to 2 days ahead).
• While the chocolate is setting, drain the cherries over a small saucepan and set them aside. Simmer the juice from the tin for about 5 mins or until syrupy. This can be done a day ahead and both can be kept in the fridge.
• To serve, use the parchment handles to lift everything out of the tin on to a board and, using a sharp knife dipped in hot water, cut into six neat bars. Using a pastry brush, paint a thick stripe of the kirsch syrup across each plate, then sit a chocolate bar across the stripe at an opposing angle. Top each bar with a line of cherries and serve with extra syrup on the side.