Chocolate Berry Goo Puds

Did this for Lara's 16th as she requested 'something REALLY chocolaty and with berries'. It did the trick. Do not attempt to eat this more than once in 16 years as you will die from chocolate overdose. 

Butter up 6 ramekins. It'll fill about 4 small and two large, so you can cater to various chocolate needs. Put a bunch of mixed berries in the bottom. 

Melt together: 

• 105g butter
• 345g dark chocolate 

Beat till thick and zabaglioned up: 

• 5 large eggs 
• 0.75 cups sugar 
• vanilla essence 

Add the two, plus 2tbsp cocoa powder (did we really need that?), in two doses to minimize deflation.  pour mix over berries. Can leave in fridge for 24 hours if necessary at this point. 

Bake at 180 for 15 mins. A few more if from chilled. 

Tip out onto plates, serve topped with fresh berries and some cream on the side. 

NOT for the faint-hearted. 

Chocolate Cinnamon Crumb Squares

Wouldn't rave about these but they do stick to yer ribs and they are chocolaty. Need some cream to go with them. Frankly can't taste the cinnamon.

For the crumble topping 

• 50g plain flour 
• 1 tbsp cocoa powder 
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon 
• 50g light muscovado sugar 
• 50g butter

For the cake 

• 200g plain chocolate 
• 175g softened butter 
• 200g light muscovado sugar 
• 3 eggs 
• 175g self-raising flour 

Make the crumble first and set aside. Make the cake (cream butter and sugar, melt chocolate, add, etc.). Pour into 20cm square tin, top with crumble, bake at 150 for 40 mins, until skewer comes out clean. Cool in tin for 10 mins then dust over with icing sugar and cut into squares.

Spiced Chocolate Cake

A REALLY DENSE delicious chocolate cake that will turn your insides into a high-class confectionery store.

(We did 1/2 of this and it still lasted days)

Melt 250g dark chocolate with 250g butter and 185ml water. Cool. Combine 125ml buttermilk, 2tbsp instant coffee, 2 tbsp oil and 4 eggs. Add in 2 cups flour (plus 2 tsp baking powder), 1/2 cup cocoa powder, 2.5 cups sugar, grated nutmeg (lots) and cinnamon. Mixy mixy. Add the melted chocolate and give a final flourish before baking at 160 for well over an hour.

When it's done, tip it upside down and drizzle over with brandy until it can take no more, then tip it right right way up and give it some more. Cool completely.

Make icing by melting 250g butter with another 250g chocolate, cooling, and slurping over the top.

Boy was this cake good. The pic is of the half-sizer.

Mocha Cake

Easiest cake you'll ever find. Pretty much foolproof too.

100g golden syrup, 100g soft brown sugar, 100g butter -> Into a bowl and microwave until all melted. Or you can do it on a stovetop, there's no difference.

Add 140ml either strong coffee (for mocha) of milk (for plain chocolate) cake, then add 1 egg. Yep, just 1 egg.

Measure out 200g self-raising flour (or the equivalent), 25g cocoa and add it to the mix too.

Bake on lowish (160 or so) for a while - 45 minutes at least for a standard 8 inch cake. It's not a big cake but enough for an afterschool snack for five kids. Very moist, and dead easy.