chocolate self-saucing pudding

As Winter bares its ugly teeth there is little other recourse than to seek refuge in a huge helping of chocolate self-saucing pudding. Rising from a deep pool of steaming rich sauce, this robust pudding is so densely fortified with chocolate, cocoa and goodwill, it can ward off any biting chill in a single serve.

To beat wolves from our door, we unleash this devilish dark pudding. As the rain beats against glass and wind buffets the external, all members of the clan dig in (and often two or three times). So, if ever there is a time to unearth the cherished pudding manuals, is doesn’t get any better than this.

And to flood your heavily shrouded home with the smell of baked chocolate, well after darkness has descended, is the very essence of how treasured olfactory memories begin.

If you have similar villainous elements that need to be kept at bay, this pudding is a magnificent way to armour your troops.

50g dark chocolate (I used Lindt 70% cocoa), chopped
50g butter, chopped
2 tbsp cocoa powder
2/3 cup milk
1 cup SR flour
1/2 cup caster sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg, beaten

fudge sauce
1 1/2 cups water
50g butter chopped
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup cocoa

icing sugar to dust the top

Preheat oven to 180 degrees celsius and grease a 6 cup capacity oven proof dish.
Combine chocolate, butter, sifted cocoa and milk in a saucepan and stir over low heat until chocolate has melted.
Sift flour into a large bowl and stir in the sugars. Add the chocolate mixture and egg – mix well.
Pour mixture into baking dish.
To make the sauce, combine the water, butter, sugar and sifted cocoa in a saucepan and stir over low heat until combined.
Pour the sauce over the back of a spoon across the surface of the pudding mix.
Bake for approximately 45 minutes or until firm.
Serve dusted with icing sugar and cream or vanilla ice cream on the side.

Postscript: and perhaps had the Starks (of Game of Thrones notoriety) been aware of the properties of the humble chocolate pudding, the threat that ”Winter is Coming” may have been nullified.