Given these things, resorting to a classic like chocolate self-saucing pudding seems pretty much compulsory - how can you resist a bowlful of hot, spongy, chocolatey pud?
Growing up, we didn't usually have dessert, but the deal was that if I wanted it (which I always did!) I could make it (which I sometimes did, depending on motivation levels and how much homework I had to pretend to be doing). Chocolate self-saucing pudding was a frequent contender, since it takes almost no time to put together - and we had a microwave recipe which only took about 10 minutes to cook. Today I've gone with the classic Edmonds, with the cocoa amped up and some chocolate chips added, because there is no such thing as too much chocolate (I hope you agree - I seem to have a theme going on at the moment!).
What comfort foods do you dive for when the cold starts creeping in?
Chocolate Self-saucing Pudding
Ingredients
100g butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla essence
1 1/4 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 Tbsp cocoa
1/3 cup chocolate chips (optional)
Sauce
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 Tbsp cornflour
1/4 cup cocoa
2 cups boiling water
Preheat oven to 180 C. Beat together butter, sugar, egg and vanilla. Sift together flour, baking powder and cocoa then fold into the mixture. Spoon into an ovenproof dish (approx 8 cup capacity - a loaf tin isn't quite big enough, but you can always put some into a smaller container if you have surplus).
Mix together the dry ingredients for the sauce and sprinkle over the pudding. Carefully pour the boiling water onto the pudding, using the back of a spoon to avoid making holes in it. Bake for 35 minutes or until it springs back when lightly touched (I often take mine out a bit gooey, cos I like it like that, so I only cooked mine for about 30).
Hi! I'm Rosa, a.k.a. Mrs Cake, and I live in Wellington, New Zealand. I love food in all its forms, my fabulous family, and a bit of good old-fashioned Kiwi DIY. This blog started around food but has evolved to include some other bits and pieces - I hope you'll join me for the journey!
Oooooh, comfort foods. There's nothing better.
ReplyDeleteFor puds, I like a good apple crumble. Delish with custard and cream. For savoury, I can't go past mashed potato. Mmmm, creamy mash goes with everything.
Now I'm hungry :-)
Kaz, apple crumble is going to be on our menu sometime this week! Clearly I really am in the comfort space. So with you on the creamy mash, too - I love my stick blender for its mash-making abilities. :-)
ReplyDeletedefinitely chocolate self saucing pudding with milk (as we never have ice cream in the house). And i love the microwave version as i can never wait that long for the oven cooked one. Although a hot apple crumble (with cornflakes in the crumble as my gran taught me) is a close second
ReplyDeleteYUM. I must make some, soon. When I was younger Mum used to buy the Edmonds packet mixes - it was probably one of the first things I learned to "cook". The pudding we used to get on school camp was the best, somehow the burnt dry bits in the corner just added to the flavour.
ReplyDeleteRe mash, don't you find the stick blender turns the potato to glue? I don't have a potato masher so often just use a fork, but if I want the creamiest mash I pass it through a sieve. I have some potatoes and cabbage to use up before my next veg box comes, bubble and squeak with veg sausages is on the menu! The sky dribbled a bit today, that's enough to justify comfort food.
Crumble is usually my go-to recipe for a quick dessert.
ReplyDeleteThis looks divine. I like the extra chocolate chips. I have to make a sick friend dinner tonight...so I might make this for her dessert.
Thanks. Love the step by step pictures as usual. xx
Sandra, I hear you, milk is good too! (though I'm an ice-cream fiend) Cornflakes in crumble sounds interesting. :-)
ReplyDeleteSarah, I find that so long as I mash normally first then just use the stick blender briefly to get it nice and smooth I don't have the glue problem. Bubble and squeak is a great childhood classic!
Jacksta, I'm sure your friend will love it, it would definitely make me feel better if I was unwell!
I love fruit crumbles,creamy rice puddings with nutmeg or cinnamon,bread and butter puds with raspberry jam on the bread (fruit bread is good) and my kids loved macaroni custard which is similar to a baked rice pudding.
ReplyDeleteSavoury? Oakhill potatoes is an old favourite and in winter I make a big pot of garlicky vege soup with heaps of pumpkin and a bacon hock, and garlic bread on the side.I could never be a low-carber!
Cheryl, Mr Cake is shouting his agreement with the rice puddings - he absolutely adores them. Potatoes in almost any form are a favourite of mine too - I couldn't cut down on my carb intake either! :-)
ReplyDeleteAvoid clumping by pre-mixing the sauce ingredients and boiling water (eg in a pyrex jug) BEFORE pouring over the cake mixture.
ReplyDeleteA lot easier and more effective than trying to mix them on the cake.
Fishwife, that sounds like an excellent idea. Thanks for the tip!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely choc self saucing is an absolute WIINER. Crumbles are quick and easy but there is too few calories for my choice! Ricepuddings are great too but the price of milk has made them a bit prohibitive - oh and I agree no such thing as too much chocolate
ReplyDeletemakeitgiveit, haha, gotta keep the calorie count up! So with you on that one. I have a lovely rice pudding recipe with coconut milk - no cheaper but super delicious. :-)
ReplyDeleteI love this post and the Louise cake one, classic baked treats are the greatest when you get them right =)
ReplyDeleteI like my chocolate self-saucing pudding with a pour of plain cream, mm.
Thanks Rebekah, it's definitely worth revisiting the simple things with good ingredients and a little TLC. :-) Mmm, cream...
ReplyDeleteoh yummy yummy yummy for my tummy.. chocy puddy is always goody!!!!!
ReplyDeleteyumm making tonight for a big famliy
ReplyDelete