Desserts Recipes - Steamed Chocolate Sponge Recipe

Ingredients

Serves 4-6

• 125 g/4 oz butter

• 125 g/4 oz caster sugar

• 2 eggs, beaten

• 150 g/5 oz self-raising flour

• 15 g/1/2 oz cocoa powder, mixed with 2 tablespoons milk 

Chocolate sauce:

• 25 g/1 oz unsalted butter

• 125 g/4 oz plain dark chocolate, broken into squares

• 25 ml/1 fl double cream

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Method:

1. Grease a 900 ml/1 1/2 pint pudding basin. Place the butter and sugar in a bowl and cream together until light and fluffy.

2. Gradually add the eggs, beating well between each addition. Sift the flour and fold it in until thoroughly blended using a figure of eight motion. Add the cocoa and milk mixture.

3. Spoon the sponge mixture into the pudding basin. Cover with a pleated piece of greased greaseproof paper and a sheet of foil large enough to allow for expansion and tie with string.

4. Place the basin in a large heavy-based saucepan, two thirds full of hot water, cover and steam over a low heat for about 1 1/2 hours, topping up with more hot water as and when necessary.

5. While the pudding is steaming, prepare the chocolate sauce. Put the butter and chocolate into a flameproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. When the chocolate has melted, beat in the double cream.

6. To serve, remove the string, paper and foil and turn out the pudding on to a warmed serving dish. Pour a little hot chocolate sauce over the pudding and serve the rest separately.

Note: The chocolate sauce must be served as soon as it is ready or kept warm over a very low heat.