Chocolate and Guinness Pudding
by Seasonal Simone
Seasonal Simone (@seasonalsimone) shared her recipe for Chocolate and Guinness Pudding. Simone says "This pudding reminds me of the holiday season. Nothing beats mum’s Christmas pudding, but this one is for the chocolate lovers who can’t bear with the intrusion of fruit and nuts. Instead of brandy, it’s boozy with Guinness and although subtle it’s still laden with fruit and nuts. Somewhere between a Christmas pudding and a chocolate cake. Child-proof really xx"
Ingredients
Method
For the pudding
175g butter, at room temperature, plus more for the pudding bowl
40g cocoa powder
150g plain flour
1⁄2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
2 tsp baking powder
190g dark brown sugar
3 eggs
175ml Guinness
80g walnuts, roughly chopped
80g dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids), roughly chopped
150g prunes, roughly chopped
For the chocolate and Guinness sauce
175g dark chocolate, roughly chopped
150ml double cream, plus more to serve
75ml Guinness
75g dark brown sugar
Method
1. Butter a 1.5-litre pudding basin or a heatproof glass bowl really well. Place a square of baking paper at the bottom of the bowl (this helps to unmold it later). Sift the cocoa powder together with the flour, bicarb and baking powder. Beat the butter and sugar together until fluffy, then gradually add the eggs, a little at a time, beating well after each addition. Fold in the sifted ingredients, alternating with the Guinness, until you have a smooth consistency. Next, fold in the walnuts, the dark chocolate and the prunes. Scrape the batter into the prepared basin.
2. Cut a square of foil approximately 4cm bigger than the top of the pudding basin and grease the underside with butter. Make a pleat in the middle of the square. Place it on top of the basin and tightly press around the edges, then tie with string to seal. Also, tie string up and over the pudding basin to make a handle.
3. Put the pudding in a large saucepan with a lid, then pour in enough boiling water to come one-third of the way up the side of the basin. Bring the water to a simmer, cover the pan and steam the pudding for 1 hour and 45 minutes, ensuring that the pan doesn’t boil dry. Remove the basin from the saucepan and leave to sit for 10 mins.
4. Meanwhile, make the chocolate and Guinness sauce. Put the chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Pour the cream, Guinness and dark brown sugar into a heavy-based saucepan and heat gently, stirring until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture is steaming hot but not boiling, then pour over the chocolate. Leave to sit for a minute or so. Stir from the inside out to avoid bubbles forming, until smooth.
5. To turn the pudding out, run a knife or a palette knife around the edge of the basin. Set a serving plate on top of the pudding, invert, give it a gentle shake, and it should slide right out. Peel off the square of baking paper. Pour some of the chocolate and Guinness sauce over the top. Serve with extra sauce and cream.