CHOCOLATE & APRICOT PUD WITH GLOSSY CHOCOLATE SAUCE

Chocolate & apricot pud with glossy chocolate sauce image

Traditional Christmas pud is not universally popular, especially with children - this wonderfully moist chocolate version could be the answer

Provided by Mary Cadogan

Categories Dessert

Time 3h10m

Number Of Ingredients 15

Ingredients

200g ready-to-eat dried apricots
4 tbsp brandy
100g ground almonds
25g cocoa powder
100g self-raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
100g softened butter
140g light muscovado sugar
2 large eggs , beaten
4 tbsp milk
100g dark chocolate
2 tbsp clear honey
100g dark chocolate
284ml carton double cream
1-2 tbsp brandy (optional)

Steps:

Butter a 1.2 litre/2 pint pudding basin and put a circle of greaseproof paper in the base. Put the apricots in a small pan and add the brandy. Bring slowly to the boil, then simmer, turning the apricots occasionally until all the brandy has soaked in. Leave until cool enough to handle.
Tip the ground almonds into a bowl, then sift over the cocoa, flour and baking powder and mix everything together.
In another bowl, beat the butter and sugar together for 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy.Gradually beat in the eggs and milk.
Chop half the apricots into small pieces. Chop the chocolate into large chunks. Lightly stir the flour mixture into the cake mix, followed by the apricots and chocolate.
Put the remaining whole apricots into the bowl and spoon over the honey. Add the pudding mixture and smooth the top. Cover with double thickness buttered greaseproof paper and tie down. Trim off the excess paper, then overwrap in foil, tucking the ends under the edges of the paper.
Put the basin into a large pan and pour boiling water into the pan, to come halfway up the sides of the basin. Cover and steam for 21⁄2 hours, until it feels firm. (The pudding can be made to this stage up to 2 days ahead. Reheat by steaming for 1 hour, or microwave on medium for 6-8 minutes.)
Towards the end of the cooking time, make the sauce. Break up the chocolate and put in a small pan with the cream and brandy if using. Warm gently, stirring lightly until smooth and glossy.
Cool the pudding in the bowl for 10 minutes, then turn out and serve with the chocolate sauce and cream or good vanilla ice cream.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 665 calories, Fat 44 grams fat, SaturatedFat 23 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 58 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 36 grams sugar, Fiber 4 grams fiber, Protein 9 grams protein, Sodium 0.74 milligram of sodium