December 4, 2011

Chocolate Tiffin Christmas Puddings: Easy Edible Christmas Gifts


 I remember when I was a child seeing the incredible Christmas cakes that my mother would make taking centre stage on the Christmas Table. When the time came to remove the ribbon, little glittery trees and Santa figurines we would all be so excited with the thought of what lay beneath the thick white icing. The disappointing reality was that under that icing was a thick layer of homemade marzipan and a fruit cake soaked in brandy and full of plump sultanas and nuts. Of course nowadays I realise that those cakes were works of art, a labour of love that my mother had spent hours preparing and mixing. As children we just presumed that these incredible cakes would be made from chocolate; but sadly no. The same went for Christmas Puddings, I so wished they were made from solid chocolate. A few days ago I got that sinking feeling when I saw a TV advert for Christmas Pudding and I realised that now that I am a grown up I can make chocolate puddings if I want, Yessssssss. And thats how these gorgeous tiffin christmas puddings came to be made. The perfect little present for the chocolate lover in your life!


Chocolate Tiffin Christmas Pudding
Makes 2 x 1 pint puddings

150g (5oz) butter
2 tbsp golden syrup
200g (7oz) dark chocolate, chopped
300g (10oz) biscuits (digestives, rich tea, polo, fruit shortcake etc.)
200g (7oz) sultanas
100g (3 1/2oz) nuts, toasted & chopped
  • Line 2 x 1 pint pudding bowls with cling film.
  • Melt the butter, syrup and chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a bowl of simmering water. Stir occasionally to make sure everything is melting evenly.
  • Crush and break the biscuits into bite size pieces, don’t worry if some bits are big as they’ll break down when you’re stirring.
  • Add the sultanas and nuts. Combine well with the biscuits in a large bowl.
  • Pour the melted chocolate mixture over and stir everything well to combine.
  • Spoon into the pudding bowls . Compress and flatten with the back of the spoon.
  • Leave to set in a cold room or the fridge before tuning out. Decorate with a cherry on top and white melted chocolate.

I added cherries to mine too. You could also soak the sultanas in brandy or rum for a few hours before using them. This tiffin recipe is from my book Make Bake Love. You'll find it in the Thrift chapter. I actually tripled this recipe and got six gorgeous puddings. You could make smaller ones by using suitably shaped teacups, just make sure you line them with cling film!
The only thing you can't do with these beauties is dowse them in brandy and set them alight!
Lilly x

24 comments:

  1. These are too cute! I'm not a big fan of Christmas cake but I do love tiffin - I imagine these would keep everyone happy at Christmas. Genius!

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  2. they look amazing!! I use to make chocolate salami in the same way but this is a great idea for a christmas gift!! thanks :)

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  3. Oh they're such a good idea! Look beautiful :)

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  4. Wow those are so cute! Definitely will be making this :) Thanks for sharing.

    Maria
    x

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  5. Ooh, these look fab! I know a few non-pudding-eaters who will absolutely love 'em.

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  6. I'm loosening my belt a notch just thinking about them. I'm sure they're worth it though!

    Marie Therese

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  7. You are a total genius. I'm making these tomorrow!

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  8. They look lovely. A nice way to use up the biscuits no one will eat out of the tin after christmas. It would be perfect for desert at New Year.

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  9. These look so festive, my children would love these on Christmas day, they're really not Christmas Pudding fans -a brilliant alternative!

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  10. Now that is my kind of Christmas Pudding, I am going to do it next week with my kids, will leave out nuts and put in Maltesers instead, yum!

    XXX
    Denise

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  11. I had a dream last night just repeating the word tiffin tiffin, surely it was a sign I should make these?

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  12. Hi Lilly!
    Your bakery is so cute and sure taste better! I love it!
    I am trying to and say you anything!!!
    Greatings for everyone from Spain!!!
    Dashwoodgirl ;)

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  13. Hi Lilly. I have tagged you for Food Bloggers Unplugged. I hope you don't mind.

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  14. hiya :) i think your tiffin christmas puddings look scrumptious! my mum bought me your book, 'make, bake, love' and its really encouraging young people (im 13) to bake! thanks and well done on your blog and book xx

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  15. My daughter got your really lovely cook book for Christmas. I think there is a misprint in the Baked Vanilla Cheesecake as it says 5 eggs in the recipe but does not include them in the method. Just wondering do we just put the eggs or not? If so when

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  16. Yes! The instructions for the cheesecake does leave out the eggs!!! Disaster. The recipe is an all in one method where everything just gets combined until smooth so just add the eggs to other ingredients and proceed as per the recipe. Thanks!

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  17. Huuuum...parecem deliciosos!!!
    :s
    Feliz 2012!!!
    xoxo

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  18. These look so delicious! Your blog is adorable - how haven't I been here before?? I'll be back soon! :) Lucie x

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  19. Hi Lily

    I'm a follower of your blog and absolutely love it. I have just ordered your book from amazon, can't wait for it to arrive!

    Maria
    x

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  20. hi lily - great idea! How far in advance could you make these for Christmas day. Can they be frozen? Would like to make them for my brother while the rest of us tuck into traditional pudding!
    Many thanks
    Janice

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    1. Hi Janice, These would freeze fine as they're just chocolate and biscuit. Hope you make them! : )

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  21. Thanks so much for the quick reply - have all the ingredients on the ready! Janice

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Let me know what you think!x