Monday 20 December 2010

Christmas Count Down

So here we are on the Monday before Christmas. With snow piling up, here's hoping Santa isn't relying on Amazon this year! I have recently been asked for a few recipes for the Christmas period so I thought this week I would give you something new each day to try. 

Today, I would like to start with something for my gluten-free friends...

Chocolate pudding

Ingredients




100g Divine Dark chocolate with orange and ginger
(Please note this may contain traces of gluten so if needs be switch to something completely gluten free)
100ml Warm Water
100g Butter
1tsp Vanilla Extract
75g Caster Sugar
3 Medium Eggs separated
25g Rice Flour
1 tsp Baking Powder
1tsp Mixed Spice
Icing sugar to dust

Serves 4

Preheat Oven to gas mark 6 (200°C/400°F)

Melt butter and chocolate by breaking into small pieces and placing in a bowl over simmering water. Once this is done add water, sugar and vanilla extract and mix until throughly combined and smooth.
Lightly beat egg yolks and add
Sift flour, baking powder and mixed spice and fold into mixture
Whisk egg whites to stiff peaks and fold gently into mixture.
Pour mixture into pudding basin or 4 ramekins
Place into a bain marie of hot water and bake for 10 minutes (for the single bowl), then reduce the temperature to gas mark 3, 325°F, 170°C, for a further 20-30 minutes. If you are using ramekins, the puddings will be cooked in about 15 minutes without reducing the temperature. The pudding should be firm on top but still soft and fudgy underneath. Dust with icing sugar and serve hot with cream.