Chocolate Fondant Puddings

These delightfully sinful, hot, oozy chocolate puddings are the ultimate indulgence.

Preparation time :	25 minutes
Cooking time :	14 minutes to 16 minutes
Total time :	39 minutes to 41 minutes

Serves: 4

Ingredients

125g butter, plus extra for greasing
25g plain flour, plus extra for dusting
200g good-quality dark chocolate, such as Valrhona Caraïbe, chopped
2 eggs, plus 2 yolks
100g caster sugar

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C, gas mark 4. Evenly brush individual metal pudding moulds (175ml) with butter. Evenly coat the buttered moulds with flour, tapping off any excess. Transfer the prepared moulds to a baking sheet.
2. Place the chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water, making sure the bowl does not touch the surface. Once melted, stir until smooth. Take the bowl off the pan to allow the chocolate to cool slightly.
3. Place the eggs and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Using an electric whisk, beat on high for minutes or until very thick, pale and fluffy. Fold the cooled chocolate mixture into the eggs and sugar. Sift in the flour and gently fold it in.
4. Divide the mixture equally between the prepared pudding moulds. Place in the oven for 14-16 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside for 2 minutes. Using a tea towel, invert onto plates and carefully remove the moulds. Serve immediately with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a good glug of double cream.

Cook's tips

The pudding moulds can be buttered and floured up to a day ahead and then refrigerated until needed. Watch how to melt the chocolate using a bain-marie pan, also known as a double boiler, at waitrose.com/melt