Mini Chocolate Christmas Puddings

Recipe by Donal Skehan

A brilliant alternative to traditional Christmas pudding. These mini chocolate Christmas puddings have an oozing liquid chocolate interior and can be made in advance and placed in the fridge until you are ready to bake them. A brilliant little make-ahead Christmas dessert and perfect for anyone who doesn’t like traditional Christmas pudding.

1. To make the snow icing gradually add a couple of drops of water at a time to your sifted icing sugar, stirring continuously. Do this by eye. If you don't need all the water, don't add it. When you reach a thick but spreadable consistency, it's ready to use. Set aside.
2. Preheat the oven 180°C, Gas mark 4.
3. Grease six mini pudding moulds and dust with cocoa powder.
4. Melt the butter in a saucepan.
5. Remove from the heat and gently stir through the chopped chocolate until melted.
6. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs and sugar until they become pale and thick.
7. Pour in the chocolate mixture, then sift in the flour.
8. Using a spatula, fold the mixture together until it is evenly combined.
9. Place the greased pudding moulds on a baking sheet and divide the chocolate batter amongst them.
10. Place in the oven on the middle shelf to cook for 12 minutes.
11. When cooked, remove from the oven and leave to rest for at least 1 minute.
12. Run a mini spatula around the inside edges to loosen the puddings, invert onto plates and spoon a heaped tablespoon of icing snow over each one, then decorate with the holly and berries for an extra festive touch.