Graciesbakes

I cheated a little and didn’t really bake anything. Or cook for that matter.

I melted some chocolate and that was about it!

I made pudding bonbons. Little morsels of christmas pudding and chocolate that explode full of flavour in your mouth. Pretty to look at and rich in flavour, you may only manage one or two before you put the lid back on the box and return them to the fridge until next time. They are simple to make but guaranteed to wow any crowd. Or place them in a pretty box and give them as a gift.

Before you start line a baking sheet with parchment or silicone baking sheet.

You will need;

125g best quality dark chocolate, chopped, 350g leftover, or freshly cooked and cooled christmas pudding, 60ml sherry or whatever alcohol you used in the pudding, 30ml golden syrup

Crumble the pudding into a large bowl and add the alcohol and the golden syrup. Mix well. Melt the chocolate in a bain marie and add to the pudding mix. Stir and combine well.

Make the next step easier on yourself and get hold of some of those latex disposable gloves. Honestly, you will thank me for it when you see the state of them! Pinch out small amounts of mixture and roll them into small balls. The size is up to you but just bear in mind that they pack an incredible punch!  You should get about 30 balls from this mixture.  Cover with cling film and place in the fridge to set.

When ready to decorate, you will need;

100g white chocolate chopped, 6 glacé cherries and 6 green glacé cherries or 6 lengths of angelica

Melt the chocolate in a bain marie, and while allowing to cool slightly, chop the glacé cherries and angelica. These will represent holly and leaves. Use a teaspoon to lightly drop some white chocolate on the top of each pudding. When you have placed the chocolate on all the mini puddings, the next step is to place the cherries, red and green, on the top. You will need to do this fairly quickly as the chocolate will set fast!

These sweets can be made a week in advance. Store them in a cool dark place until you use them or give them as a gift. If you are giving them away on the same day as you make them, place a small label with the sweets telling the recipient to eat within a week. If you make them a week in advance, the note should read to store in a cool place and eat within 2 days.

However, I guarantee, they will not last that long.  They literally vanished the last time I gave them as a gift.

Enjoy this mouthful of christmas. xx