xx
This post is also a joint tribute to my friends Meeta and Jamie who visited last month.
Meeta likes a good pot-de-creme and Jamie gave me this glorious vanilla chestnut puree. So I put my two friends together and came up with something wonderful.
My tripod came in useful this afternoon, would you believe I took these pictures at 3pm in December with barely any light. Some of the exposures were over a second long.
You’ll hear more about these Jamie Oliver knives later this week too…
Inspiration for Chocolate Chestnut Puddings With Dates
Today’s recipe is based on Chocolate Chestnut Pots from Nigella Christmas which is in itself an adaptation of an earlier simple chocolate pot recipe from Nigella Express.
Beyond heating cream and blitzing chocolate in the food processor (which is strangely good fun), there’s not a lot to do other than pour it into the glasses and lick the spoon afterwards.
Linking up Chocolate Chestnut Puddings
I am so pleased with these simple desserts that I am sending them everywhere.
Back in the UK, I am also sharing this with Choclogblog and The Chocolate Teapot‘s monthly event We Should Cocoa. The ingredient being paired with chocolate this month is dates. Hence the addition of dates tumbled into the bottom of these choccie puddings.
…and dare I say it, I’m also cheekily using this as an opportunity to remind you about my new blogging event Forever Nigella .
Chocolate Chestnut Puddings with Dates
Ingredients
- 175 g milk chocolate
- 125 ml double cream
- 125 ml milk
- 1 egg
- 250 g canned sweetened vanilla chestnut puree (or plain sweetened will do)
- 30 ml dark rum
- 18-20 dates pitted and roughly chopped
- 3 mini meringues (or amaretti biscuits) crumbled for decoration - optional
Instructions
- Blitz the chocolate in the food processor and remove the lid.
- Warm the milk and cream in a small saucepan. As it nearly reaches the boil, pour in the processor on top of the chocolate crumbs.
- Allow to stand for 30 seconds then replace the lid and blitz for another 30 seconds. Then crack the egg down the funnel and blitz for another 45 seconds.
- Remove the lid and add the chestnut puree and rum. Replacing the lid, pulse until combined.
- Tumble the chopped dates into 6 verrine glasses or small pots.
- Remove the processor blade and pour the batter into a jug before decanting carefully into your pots. Sprinkle over the crumbled meringues or amaretti if using.
- Chill for at least one hour before serving.
A lovely dessert! So scrumptious looking.
Great giveaways!
Cheers,
Rosa
Yum! I’ve been disappointed I can’t be in the running for any of your prizes down in Aus but I’m in for this one. Thanks.
Fantastic job on your photos, Sarah! Truly stunning. 🙂 HOORAY for an international giveaway!! 🙂 So glad you had such a lovely time with Jamie and Meeta. 🙂
Fabulous dessert you created with the chestnut cream and now I have to try it! And your photos are beautiful, Sarah! Go, you! Love the giveaway series and I now must go back to read through them all.
Okay, tweeted the giveaway!
Annnnd am now following @Matcha_chocolate
omg yommeh lookin pic.
I have not tried chestnuts before but after this post I might try it 😀
The recipe looks delicious, as do the chocolates in the giveaway!
Thanks!
Lovely choc pud recipe.
Thanks for another giveaway.
Louise x
tweeted @louisesims and am a follower of @matcha_chocolat on Twitter.
Lovely lovely dessert Sarah! Perfect for the Monthly Mingle. Plus I have two cans of the chestnut cream and seriously need to use it up – so this is giving me a lot of ideas!
Ah, verrines…
I bought a couple of books about them when I was in France earlier in the year – they are such an intriguing idea. Simple but beautiful
Your dessert speaks a thousand words Sarah. Lovely and very chocolaty.
These sound lovely. I’ve never actually eaten chestnut (the horror) and have been thinking about chestnut and chocolate cupcakes but perhaps should give this a go first!
I love the recipe and what a great giveaway again….thanks.
Tweeted the competition too. 🙂
Glad there’s an international giveaway! I’m in Spain so works for me! The desserts look gorgeous!
Have tweeted as @notsosinglemum
Have followed @matcha_chocolat on twitter
You have such an inspiring blog.
Hoping one day my little blog grows up to look like yours
http://catchingupwiththeclarkes.blogspot.com/
Great recipe for the we should cocoa challenge. It’s great to see the different things people come up with.
Fab recipe , shall have to give this a go over christmas.
Just tweeted @daisybeebee
Following matcha_chocolat on Twitter
Yummy!!!! Fingers crossed.
Tweeted @NFZ0809LOVE
Following matcha chocolate as well!
Great photos! Suffering from the same lighting problems here, especially as the only spot I have for photographs is next to a north facing window. I <3 Matcha Chocolates, so I'll be back with re-tweets etc.
Have tweeted @ScrumptiousSal http://twitter.com/ScrumptiousSal/status/14014740791566336
And I am now following @matcha_chocolat and trying to *not* buy their winter selection!
yummy recipie, love reading your blog posts, think i also have you added on my twitter
yum! what a good giveaway!
there’s a tweet out there from me @cupcake_kelly!
Yum!
O M G ! ANY CHANCE TO WIN ANYTHING CHOCOLATE WOULD BE FABULOUS. I NEED CHOCOLATE TO SURVIVE.
Lovely pictures and fantastic recipe. It is really a season of feasting!
You know I love you for the word ‘international’ Sarah! LOL!! What a gorgeous take on verrines, petit desserts I love to love. Great idea, and a wonderful shout out to Jamie & Meeta! Missed seeing the good ole bunch, and was seen sulking in India, but well…..
Do throw my name in for the giveaway. I still have to do some chocolat stuff for the MM. Oh the pressure!!
Did I forget to add I did the part where you blitz the cream with the chooclate…and then you lick the spoon! Super YUM!! Already following Matcha chocolate on twitter!
Yummmm !
nice giveaway
tweet- http://twitter.com/AnnaKul/status/14251344214888448
love the recipes please enter me for the giveaway 🙂
following on twitter (annakul)
Have retweeted @buzylizzy1 🙂
Have followed matcha_chocolat 🙂
as @buzylizzy1
tw-http://twitter.com/AnnaKul/status/14251344214888448
Those puddings sound divine. I love your blog!
Tweeted @wendymcd83
I follow @matcha_chocolat on Twitter.
@wendymcd83
Chestnut cream, now that sounds wonderful, will have to try this recipie
another great giveaway
That looks like a fab dessert! Where would people without chestnut-cream-gifting-friends buy it from?
I’m following @matcha_chocolat on Twitter. I’m @vickii373
As it’s Christmas I can indulge myself with this dessert
This sounds absolutely yummy!
I will eat anything chocolatey but I really can’t resist this product…
Have tweeted @jazza1
I’m now following @matcha_chocolat on Twitter
Mmm, delicious
Delicious! xx
Yes, please, me, please.
Following matcha on twitter
And RT’d as abritontheside
You have the most deliciously brilliant photos! Would love to win.
Have tweeted @maisietoo
Following on twitter @maisietoo
Ooh these sound lovely!
I also followed Matcha Chocolates on twitter.
Am salivating at the very thought! x
What a wonderful unusual recipe. Will be using this one just so luxurious got to be a winner.
This looks yummy – will try it out!
Tweeted the message.
Following on Twitter.
Sound delicious!
Have retweeted
@ammalinetheduck
Following on Twitter
@ammalinetheduck
I don’t think I’d have the willpower to put that puree in a recipe. I’d just eat it, straight off the spoon.
I love chocolate
Following @Matcha Chocolate on Twitter as @Bobbity666
Tweeted comp as @Bobbity666
Soooo love chocolate in any scrumptious form xx
Those puds look delicious!
This sounds scrummy, pity i can’t eat the wrappers as well
salivating as I type and yes I know that is way too much information
Yumsville and inspiration for a lovely Christmas too.
I tweeted details of the giveaway
I tweeted as@netcurtains and followed too
They look heavenly – please enter me.
Oh those look delicious! And so simple to make too! I love the idea of chocolate and dates. This may have to make an appearance over Christmas…
They look absolutely gorgeous!
Have followed (bev_metallica)
and done a RT bev_metallica
Yummmmmy
Oh yum yum yum!
Maggy x
if only i could go through my computer screen and eat all this mmmmm
twittered @rainiexiexie
following @matcha_chocolat on Twitter
Y U M M Y!!!
please enter me, looks great
i have tweeted @ashlallan
I am following @matcha_chocolat too (@ashlallan)
These look nice!
sounds so delicious
What a lovely idea, I always have leftover dates after Christmas so I can pretend I’m being virtuos by making these (and diets start tomorrow…)
YUM! Thanks so much for making this international, I’d love to win this for Christmas.
Kate1485 at hotmail.com
I tweeted about it:
http://twitter.com/NTFancy/status/14980694430195712
Kate1485 at hotmail.com
I’m following you on Twitter (@NTFancy)
Kate1485 at hotmail.com
Gorgeous!
These sound wonderful
They all look so lovely and yummy – what great ideas
Thanks for opening this up to International Readers too 🙂
Tweeted from @karishmapais
Following you on twitter too 🙂
That’s my 3 entries. Fingers crossed for now
What a fab combination
You really are spoiling us but I’m not complaining!
loving it! great i wana taste them lol
OOh lovely, would love it in my Crimbo stocking..x
Have retweeted as @StomaFreeBuddie
looks great
yummmmmmmmmmmmmyyyyyy!!!!
I’d love to win!
I tweeted:
http://twitter.com/aikchien/status/15420465057103873
Follow @Matcha_Chocolat on Twitter @aikchien
mmmm…chocolate!
tweeted @sarokaal
& followed
Lovely!
these look delicious.
following on twitter as well.
Yes please
They do look good!
They look almost too good to eat – but I would eat them!
Chocolate lovely mmmmmmmmmmmmmm
My grandmother used to make the most amazing Chocolate and chestnut charlotte(with Grand Marnier) and with the chestnut paste you have posted on your blog.
Please enter me into the Matcha Chocolat Chai Caramels draw too
Tweeted.
Would love to try those delicious chocolate.
Matcha is my favourite green tea
Following @Matcha_Chocolat on Twitter
Oh my, these sound lovely. Thanks for the chance!
they look yummy!!
Would love to win matcha chocolate
great prize
YUMMY
would love to win
COOL PRIZE
im hungry now
These look completely yummy.
Tweeted @ericahughes
Following @Matcha_Chocolat on Twitter @ericahughes
I would love to win.
looks yummy 😀
raluk.93 at gmail (dot) com
i tweeted : http://twitter.com/#!/raluk15/status/15859546257883136
(@raluk15)
raluk.93 at gmail (dot) com
follow @matcha_chocolat on Twitter (@raluk15)
raluk.93 at gmail (dot) com
looks delicious
Looks gorgeous x x
they look really delicious
Yummy.Would love to win these for Xmas.
oh I remember those tins of marron puree from a childhood of summers spent near chambery in france!
Yes please
All I can say is, mmmmmmmmm mmmm
Those puds look absolutely delicious!