I’m not usually one for novelty shapes but when Nordic Ware sent me a six hole snowflake baking tin I couldn’t resist (it is Christmas after all). Chocolate fondants never fail to make me happy so I thought a simple festive twist on the classic melt-in-the-middle puddings was in order; the snowflakes themselves taste predominantly of dark chocolate, spiked with a little clementine zest, but the honeycomb really makes for a well rounded dessert full of flavour and texture. Add ice cream too for optimum indulgence.
Ingredients
Makes 6-8 puddings
- 1-2tbsp cocoa powder, for dusting
- 140g 70% dark chocolate
- 140g butter, plus extra for greasing
- 140g golden caster sugar
- 3 eggs, 2 egg yolks
- 125g plain flour
- Zest 3 clementines
For the honeycomb
- 100g caster sugar
- 2 1/2 tbsp golden syrup
- 1tsp ground cardamom
- pinch salt
- 1tsp bicarbonate of soda
Method
- Brush the moulds inside with melted butter then coat in cocoa powder, tap out any excess and set aside.
- Melt the chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, then leave to cool a little.
- Place the eggs, yolks, sugar and clementine zest in a large bowl or bowl of a stand mixer with whisk attachment and whisk until pale and thick.
- Add the flour and mix together briefly, then add the chocolate mix, a quarter at a time. Mix well between each addition. Split the mix between the moulds then chill for 15 minutes. Preheat the oven to 180c.
- Meanwhile, make the honeycomb. To do this line a medium high sided baking tray with baking paper then place the sugar, syrup, salt and ground cardamom in a small saucepan. Heat until the sugar has dissolved and you have a golden, slightly simmering liquid, then add the bicarbonate of soda, remove from the heat and mix (just a few seconds, until the bicarbonate of soda has disappeared.). It will rise up quickly and go foamy. Tip into the prepared tin and leave to set hard.
- Take the puddings from the fridge and bake for 9-11 minutes for the perfect saucy middle. Break up the honeycomb and serve a few shards with each pudding.