November 1, 2011

Soft-centered Mocha Pudding — a wicked treat worthy of special occasions

In a few days it will be Eid. Yes.

Muslims around the world will be celebrating Eid al-Adha, feast of the sacrifice, on the tenth day of the lunar month of Dhu’l-Hijjah, marking the culmination of the holy pilgrimage to Mecca. It’s a holiday everyone comes to appreciate in the GCC States, just like the seasonality of the Christmas in the west.

During Eid, it is customary to finish off the meals with a sweet treat, and share sweet dishes with friends and relatives.

Festivals call for special treat, don't you think? Now if you are looking for a last minute indulgence, I have something very special. It's tasty, it's chocolaty too. An emergency homemade treat for giving, or sharing at your dining table—a wicked treat to celebrate Eid.
It’s like a molten cake or pudding. You know, the kind that's sexy hot with a wonderful mocha flavor, super moist texture, and gooey center. Wicked too, I must add. Mmmm. Care to indulge, anyone?

I’m a milk chocolate person, I admit. I hardly enjoy anything that’s dark chocolaty. Except, molten chocolate cake, also known as chocolate fondant. This’s usually the first item I order whenever we dine out at Chili’s or TGI Friday’s. I know, I know—it’s dessert, typically ordered at the end of a meal. But, I never care. I really enjoy digging into the fudge filled sizzling cake served with a dollop of cold vanilla ice cream topped with crunchy chocolate shell. Decadent!
Now, when I was thumbing through glossy recipe books at one of our weekend mall visits and came across this soft-centered pudding recipe, I instantly knew the book had to be mine. There was no other way (oh yeah, food blogging is an expensive obsession!). I wanted to try my hand at making this favorite treat at home. Especially since my family loves it as much as I do—particularly my elder boy.

Well, that was a while back. After the initial thrill of buying, the book was stacked away on the shelf together with tons other cook books. Until the husband returned home recently after a two week business trip with plenty of chocolate treats. He had picked a box of Lindt Dark Thins quite accidently. That was it—I couldn't wait any longer to try out the tempting recipe from the book.
For such an elegant dessert, you’ll be surprised at how easily you can pull this together. Moreover, it cooks in just about 12 minutes! So, if you have a passion for fine velvety dark chocolate, then this molten cake or pudding is just for you.

Wait, there’s more.

A little chocolate is, in fact, good for a healthy heart. Dark chocolate contains antioxidants called flavonoids that help protect the body from damage by free radicals. You know, cocoa powder packs more disease fighting antioxidant than green tea or red wine. And, a high anti-oxidant diet helps fight brain aging.
The key to this fabulous dessert is chocolate. Use good quality dark chocolate with 70% cocoa solids. The puddings are best served warm—if you reheat the tops tends to collapse inward. My kids and I loved it freshly baked out of the oven, topped with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream, and a scatter of fresh raspberries. Aha! Now, I didn’t have enough ice cream for the pictures, so I topped it with whipping cream instead.

Whether you dress them with softly whipped cream, a dollop of ice cream, or sever them on their own, these puds are utterly delicious.
Soft Centered Mocha Pudding
(Recipe Source: The Australian Women’s Weekly Delicious Desserts)

Ingredients
Makes 6

155g (5 ounce) dark (semi-sweet) eating chocolate, coarsely chopped (I used Lindt Swiss Thins Dark Chocolate)
125g (4 ounces) butter, coarsely chopped, plus extra softened butter for greasing
3 teaspoons instant coffee granules (I used Nestle)
2 eggs
2 egg yolks
1/3 cup (75g) caster sugar
¼ cup (35g) plain (all purpose) flour, sifted
2 teaspoons cocoa powder, for garnish
fresh raspberries, to serve
whipped cream, or vanilla ice cream, to serve

Directions

Preheat oven to 200oC/400oF. Generously grease six-hole mini silicone bundit pan with softened butter; place on a large baking sheet. Alternatively, you can use a muffin pan, or individual heat resistant pudding moulds, or ramekins.

Sift flour, twice. Set aside.

Melt butter, coffee and chocolate in a small saucepan, very slowly, over low heat, stirring occasionally, until smooth. Cool 10 minutes; transfer to a large bowl.

Meanwhile whisk together eggs, yolks and sugar with electric mixer on very high speed until thick and creamy—the mixture will triple in volume thickening to a mouse-like, creamy texture.

Gently fold egg mixture and sifted flour into barely warm chocolate mixture until just combined without deflating the batter. 

Divide mixture among pan holes up to ¾ full, leaving a bit of space at the top for the sponges to rise. Place the tray on the middle shelf of the oven. Bake about 10-12 minutes until puddings rise. Remember to tailor cooking time to your oven behavior.

Remove from oven and rest about 5 minutes. Gently and carefully turn puddings onto serving plates, top-side down. Unmolding can be a little tricky as the pudding is wobbly, with the top most vulnerable.

Finishing with a dust of cocoa powder and serve immediately.

Dress it up with whipped cream and fresh raspberries, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream topped with chocolate sauce, if you like.
And now, for a bit of other news. My Pearlspot Fish Grilled in Banana Leaf made the Foodbuzz Top 9 today (November 1, 2011). 

Thank you, everyone, for your kindness and support. I am sorry I don’t have more time these days to chat and write. Things are getting a little overwhelming for me due to some health challenges. Hopefully I should feel better once I kick off the treatments. I promise to visit your spaces soon to see what you have been up to. Among other things, I miss the connections. Terribly.  

Before I sign off, Eid Mubarak to my dear reader and friends celebrating this holiday. May this season be filled with blessings, happiness, love and lots of delicious food.

59 comments:

  1. Gosh!!! This is definitely sinful and decadent.

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  2. it is a divine . so tempting mocha cake

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  3. It's a pleasure to watch all the beautiful clicks you have got here..

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  4. Oooh I can never resist a molten chocolate cake , Like you even we order that whenever we go to Chillis , my son absolutely loves it . This looks really good . Great clicks as usual .

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  5. Hey next time I will ask my hus to get a project near your area...so that I can visit you always...;)
    Cake looks super..and very beautiful clicks...

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  6. OMG....thats so tempting. Just wanna dig in

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  7. wow great dear so beautiful clicks !! hats off to u for those clicks !! This pudding is very tempting and loved it !!

    Ongoing Event - Festive Food

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  8. Omg, i can die for it..fantastic dessert..

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  9. Omg, wat a fabulous dessert..simply inviting..

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  10. colourful delicious looking pudding

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  11. Mocha cake looks divine,chocolaty and tempting..lovely dear

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  12. Simply heavenly and delicious looking Mocha cake. Wonderfully prepared dear.

    Deepa
    Hamaree Rasoi

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  13. Gosh ~ looking at your post I froze to gaze n drool at that sinful gooey n utterly gorgeous treat! You got all the right ingredients to get me..lol..
    USMasala

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  14. Looks so wonderful! Unlike you, I love dark chocolate (and milk chocolate too), and this looks like a superb dessert.

    The pearl spot pics looks great....! congrats on making it to top 9 in foodbuzz!!!

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  15. Looks delectable...sinfully delciious. And mindblowing clicks

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  16. Beautiful pics and nice recipe Nashi!

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  17. Divine....simply amazing dear.....
    amazing...amazzzzing clicks

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  18. So tempting! I am HUGE chocolate fan and that is making me drool :)

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  19. super recipe and brilliant clicks

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  20. My mouth don't open wide enough...want it now

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  21. Beautiful clicks...pudding sounds tasty nd tempting...

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  22. Nash

    you do styling that is immaculate. I was shooting some awfully bad looking strawberries today in the morning. GAve up after some time as one could not really work creatively to get a decent result.

    HOw I wish you could do some styling ;-)

    Superb shooting !

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  23. Hope you get well soon, Nash... The mocha pudding looks awesome and out of this world

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  24. Hi Nashi, I thought I must be apologising for my continued absence in your space, though you are back from your break quite a while ago. Yes, things could be stressful sometimes. But girl, whatever it is, get well soon, ok??

    This mocha pudding is indeed an indulgence. Soft and gooey!! Lovely pics as always!! :)

    Eid Mubarak to you too and take care :)

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  25. Yes Eid is coming! happy Eid to you! Hope you have a lot of sweet things to share and enjoy!
    The cake looks incredible!

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  26. Yes this is indeed a wicked pudding which is sure to make you go back for more.

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  27. I like the picture with the imprint of the spoon in the cocoa! Very creative. And I've never seen a box of Lindt Swiss Thins Dark Chocolate like that before but I want one now.

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  28. Happy Eid! This looks like the perfect sweet treat to celebrate. I usually make something more traditionally Middle Eastern but you've got me hooked on mocha after seeing this cake.

    Love your photos - very creative.

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  29. Uffff.... amazing and stupefying clicks dear. So many startling and striking pics Nash.
    mmmm.... I want to dig into that pudding... :)

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  30. Really wicked...this pudding is so tempting that I just wish to dig in it. Beautiful pictures Nashira..very creative indeed and congrats for Foodbuzz Top 9.

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  31. MashaAllah & So beautiful clicks..you always amaze me my sweety hearty! well I like the spoon effect :) how smart..
    oh yes me going right now for picking some chocolates from my side table! thanks God i have chocolate otherwise i will be mad for chocolates after checking this post ! hehehehe ( dont mind my foolishness )
    Enjoy :)

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  32. This looks absolutely delicious. Every frame is so pretty, I almost think that I wouldn't bear to eat it....

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  33. No one will say no to this, Nash. Absolutely decadent! Have a wonder Eid holiday and I hope you will get well soon.

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  34. oh ente eeshwara!!! nash darls i adore adore adore your pics gal!!! oh my how creative you are..its always a joy to come here and see your pics.
    great going..
    Loved the recipe and with your clicks it luks absolutely stunning

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  35. the pics are tempting, but sadly for me i dont like anything chocolately...as you might already know..although a bar of dark choc is always stashed away in my pantry, you know for those midnight cravings at times ;)
    i used to be a milk choc person but for the past couple of years its been dark choc all the way..

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  36. Gorgeous photos honey - I am a huge sucker for anything and everything chocolaty :D

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  37. i have to so make a molten center cake this holiday season.. this one looks divine! and such gorgeous pictures!
    Richa @ Hobby And More Food Blog

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  38. Ah memories of that chilli's molten chocolate cake! It was a college time favorite, I should really go back for more sine I'd probably never be able to pull this off at home.

    AND YOUR PICTURES ARE CRAAAAZY AMAZING!! (i know I've said it a million times, but a million and one won't hurt.)

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  39. My Heart is Melting Like d Mocha Pudding...........Yummmilicious!!!

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  40. Gorgeous, decadent dessert! And i love the picture of the spoon... like the spray painting we used to do as kids :) beautiful!!

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  41. I'm sorry that you are not feeling well! I hope that things get better for you soon.

    In the meantime, this is a fantastic recipe - it looks delicious!

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  42. hey no dont have a fb page..too many things to keep track of and update:)
    but i do have a separate fb acc for blog stuff and blog friends..if u have a fb acc add me its nisha thomas (open book)

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  43. Totally decadent & sinful...looks so gorgeous..I wish you could pass me that plate to polish off..yum!

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  44. Absolutely gorgeous presentation. I wish I could eat it right away!

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  45. Decadent!What a treat for Eid, Eid Mubarak Nashi dearie, I hope there is nothing major to worry about your health, and drop me a line if you ever want to talk medical, you know i'm only an email away..I just love your molten pudding, looks better than even a M&S ones!

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  46. Many congratulations!:-) Nice to know that your recipe made it to foodbuzz top 9(Umm..But that is not surprising,it is?Hehe).
    The pudding looks absolutely delicious!So much so,that my mouth is watering just thinking about it.And somewhere,I would prefer to dig this in with whipped cream rather than ice-cream.
    Thank you so much for sharing!:-)

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  47. Really beautiful clicks, perfect treat for chocolate lovers! Eid Mubarak to you & your family :)

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  48. Another ethereal post and photographs. I can't wait to try this...I agree that chocolate is an important part of a sensible and healthy way of eating. I hope that your health challenges will be a thing of the past very soon. Cheers!

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  49. Hey. Thanks so, so much everyone for your warm greetings, lovely comments and thoughtful notes. You make me smile, really. Lotsa ♥

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  50. Delicious!!!!!! I love every single pictures here... so bright and make me feel happy and warm. I have the same/similar Japanese rice bowl too. =) Really beautiful post!

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  51. A droolworthy pudding! I love the pneat presentation and lovely clicks.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  52. Y do u freeze everytime I come here?? I cant keep my eyes off this beautiful pudding. I have been busy lately and cudnt catch up... I think i have missed out alot

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  53. oh, how many cookbooks have I put back down after finding one standout recipe and I swear to purchase it later. This purchase looks like it paid off - delicious!

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  54. Now that really is sexy, Nashira. I would love to try this when I have some guests at home.

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  55. I loved this very much! I always love lindt thins a lot, this sounds great with that :)Always love your lighting in your photography!

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  56. You have great pictures!

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A million thank you's for stopping by, taking the time to connect, and coming back to visit again. I genuinely appreciate each of your kind thoughts, lovely words, love and support. Happy, happy to hear from you, and hope to see you again!

♥ Nashi