Steamed Chocolate Pudding with Chocolate Fudge Sauce

A warm chocolate pudding with chunks of dark chocolate served with a fudge sauce – say no more!

150 grams butter, very soft but not melted

150 grams brown sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 350 grams plain flour 2½ teaspoons baking powder 50 grams cocoa powder ½ teaspoon sea salt

2 large eggs, size 7 200ml milk

100 grams dark chocolate, roughly chopped

Chocolate Fudge Sauce, warmed (see recipe below)

cream or ice cream

Butter a 6-cup capacity pudding bowl or basin and line the base with a circle of baking paper.

Beat the butter, sugar and vanilla together until pale and light in texture.

Add all the remaining ingredients, except the chopped chocolate, and beat on low until smooth and all the ingredients are combined. Stir in the chocolate.

Spoon the mixture into the basin and smooth the top with the back of a spoon. Place a circle of baking paper on top of the pudding. Clip on the lid of the basin or cover tightly with a piece of foil and secure with kitchen string.

Place a small folded cloth in the base of a deep saucepan and put the basin on top. Pour in enough boiling water to come halfway up the side of the basin. Cover with a lid, turn the heat to low and steam for 1¾ hours, topping up with more boiling water if needed during cooking.

Remove the basin and leave to stand for 10 minutes. Take off the lid and baking paper and place a lipped serving plate over the top. Invert the plate and basin together then lift off the basin and the lining paper.

Serve hot with the warm fudge sauce and cream or ice cream.