Chilled Chocolate Cherry Pudding

ChilledChocolateCherryPudding

Serves 6

Plant based /Dairy Free /Gluten Free/ Nut Free /Refined Sugar Free

On hot summer days, we sometimes crave a little treat that will hit that spot but also keep us light and cool. This is a wonderful puddling recipe we have created for you, just for those occasions. Sweet cherries are combined with a fluffy, dark chocolate cream and then chilled until served. Not too sweet, beautifully silky, delightful and easy to prepare with a few simple ingredients.

You can dress it up for a special summer dessert, or dress it down for a refreshing weekday treat.

Ingredients

700ml plant based milk (we used Koko super 9)

60g corn flour

200ml maple syrup

50g raw cocoa powder

1/2tsp salt

150g organic dark chocolate, broken into squares (we used Green & Blacks)

1tsp vanilla extract

250g frozen pitted sweet cherries

A few fresh cherries

A sprinkle of icing sugar

Method

From the milk, take 150ml and place it in a small bowl with the corn flour. Whisk it well and set it aside. In a medium saucepan, add the rest of the milk, the maple syrup, the cocoa and the salt. As it warms, add the corn flour and milk mixture and stir it in. Gently bring to a boil while whisking. Continue to whisk until the mixture has thickened and looks like a thick custard. Turn off the heat and add the chocolate pieces and the vanilla extract. Finally, fold in the frozen cherries. Serve the pudding in individual bowls of your choice and allow them to cool completely before placing them in the fridge to chill. Leave them in the fridge over night of for at least a few hours. Serve chilled, with a few fresh cherries on top and a light sprinkle of icing sugar. Enjoy!

Notes

You can also serve this pudding in one large bowl and decorate it with the fresh cherries if you would rather have a centrepiece dessert.

Cherries are one of the most beloved fruits and for good reason. Apart from their delightful taste and their versatility, they are packed full of nutrients with marvellous health effects. Rich in vitamin C, potassium and fibre, cherries are full of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds that help fight disease and keep us healthy. Cherries also contain melatonin, which may help us sleep better. They have also been shown to aid athletic performance and muscle recovery, and may benefit people suffering from arthritis or gout.