Hot Chocolate Custard Puds Food

CHOCOLATE MUFFINS WITH HOT CHOCOLATE CUSTARD

Steps:

• Heat oven to 160C/fan 140C/gas 3. Brush 6 holes of a muffin tin with a drop of oil. Sieve the cocoa into a large bowl, then add the rest of the dry ingredients. Stir to combine, then make a well in the centre.
• Beat the milk, egg and oil together in a jug, pour into the well, then stir quickly to make a batter. Spoon into the muffin tin, then bake for 15 mins or until risen and firm to the touch. Heat the custard in the microwave according to instructions, or in a pan, then tip in the chopped chocolate and stir until smooth. Turn the puddings into bowls and pour the custard over.

CHOCOLATE SPONGE WITH HOT CHOCOLATE CUSTARD

Steps:

• Cover the dates with boiling water and set aside to soften for 30 mins.
• Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3 and line a 20 x 30cm baking tin with baking parchment. Drain the dates, reserving the liquid, then whizz the dates to a purée with 100ml of the soaking liquid.
• Beat the egg whites in a large bowl with an electric whisk until stiff peaks hold on the end of your whisk. Add half the sugar and beat until thick and glossy.
• In another bowl, beat the yolks and remaining sugar until pale. Whisk in the mashed date mixture, then fold into the egg white mixture until well combined. Mix the flour, baking powder and cocoa with a pinch of salt. Sprinkle over the wet mixture and very gently fold in until well combined. Gently scrape into the tin and spread to the edges. Bake for 35-40 mins until a skewer poked in comes out clean.
• Meanwhile, mix the custard powder, sugar and cocoa together in a saucepan. Stir in dribbles of milk until you get a smooth paste. Gradually add more milk until it's all incorporated with no lumps. Put over a medium heat and warm, stirring constantly, until thick and just bubbling.
• Cut the warm cake into slabs and pour over the hot chocolate custard to serve.

HOT CHOCOLATE PUDDING

Steps:

• Heat 4 cups of the milk in a large saucepan over medium heat until steaming.
• Meanwhile, whisk the sugar, hot chocolate mix, cornstarch and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Whisk in the egg yolks and the remaining 1/2 cup milk.
• Slowly add half of the hot milk to the egg mixture, whisking constantly until smooth. Gradually whisk the egg-milk mixture into the remaining hot milk in the saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat, whisking constantly. Continue to cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture has thickened to a pudding-like consistency, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
• Let the pudding cool slightly, stirring a few times to prevent a skin from forming. Place a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the pudding and refrigerate until it has completely cooled and thickened, about 4 hours.
• Before serving, whisk the pudding vigorously until it's smooth and creamy. Spoon it into serving bowls and top with dollops of whipped cream and a sprinkling of hot chocolate mix.

EASY CHOCOLATE CUSTARD

Steps:

• Beat eggs and vanilla extract together in a medium bowl until combined; set aside.
• Whisk milk, sugar, cocoa powder, cornstarch, brandy, and salt together in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until boiling and thickened, 6 to 8 minutes. Reduce heat to low.
• Slowly pour 1/2 of the milk mixture into the beaten eggs while stirring; pour mixture back into the saucepan. Cook, stirring constantly, until thick, 2 to 3 minutes. Do not boil.
• Let custard cool to room temperature, at least 10 minutes. Refrigerate until set, at least 4 hours.

CHOCOLATE HOT CROSS BUN BREAD & BUTTER PUDDING

Steps:

• Put the cream, milk, 100g of the dark chocolate, the cocoa powder, sugar, vanilla and a pinch of salt in a saucepan over a low-medium heat and whisk until the mixture is smooth and fully combined. Pour into a large bowl to cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, split the hot cross buns and spoon 1 tsp chocolate spread over the base of each, then sandwich with the bun tops. Arrange the buns in a 5cm-deep, 30 x 20cm baking dish in a single layer, then sprinkle over the rest of the chopped dark chocolate.
• When the chocolate cream mixture has cooled to room temperature, whisk in the eggs. Slowly pour this custard over the hot cross buns, then cover and chill for 1 hr until some of the custard has been absorbed by the buns.
• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Bake for 40-45 mins until the top is golden and the custard is gently set. Leave to stand for 5 mins, then serve with ice cream, if you like.

CHOCOLATE CUSTARD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 320 degrees F.
• Melt chocolate over low heat.
• In a saucepan, combine cream, milk and 2 tblsps sugar and bring to bare simmer, stirring occasionally.
• In a small bowl combine 2 tblsps of the milk mixture with the espresso powder and stir into the milk mixture with the chocolate.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, egg, and remaining ¼ cup sugar for 1 minute, or until the mixture is blended well.
• Add milk mixture in a stream, whisking, and strain through a fine sieve into a large measuring cup.
• Spoon off the froth and pour into six 5-ounce custard cups.
• Cover cups with foil.
• Arrange cups in a baking pan and pour hot water around them to reach halfway up sides.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until just set.
• Remove from oven, let cups sit in hot water for 10 minutes, remove, and let cool completely.
• Chill 3 hours and garnish with a dollop of whipped cream, if desired.