Hoppers
By Karan Gokani
Chocolate biscuit pudding
Not Too Tricky
serves 6
About the recipe
This simple refrigerator cake is my favourite Sri Lankan dessert, and so easy to make with basic store-cupboard ingredients. Our recipe at Hoppers is slightly softer than the traditional CBPs and less sweet. If you don’t plan to demould the pudding, make it in a transparent dish or jars as the alternating layers of biscuit and chocolate, so characteristic of this pudding, must be visible. For an extra indulgence, add 50ml (1¾fl oz) dark rum, Baileys or arrack to the chocolate mix.
Recipe From
Ingredients
100g (3½oz) cashew nuts
300g (10½oz) unsalted butter, softened
300g (10½oz) icing (confectioners’) sugar
100g (3½oz) cocoa powder
pinch of salt
300ml (10½fl oz) whole milk
90ml (3fl oz) double (heavy) cream
300g (10½oz) Rich Tea biscuits (Graham Crackers)
Method
- 1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan/350°F and spread the cashew nuts on a baking sheet. Toast the nuts in the oven for 8–10 minutes until light golden brown. Leave to cool slightly, then roughly chop the nuts and set aside for later.
- 2. Combine the butter, icing (confectioners’) sugar, cocoa powder and salt in a large bowl. Beat together until smooth, then add 50ml (1¾fl oz) of the milk and mix to combine. Finally, add the double (heavy) cream and beat for 2–3 minutes until smooth and light.
- 3. Place the remaining milk in a separate, shallow bowl and dunk the Rich Tea biscuits (Graham Crackers) in the milk one at a time for 5 seconds each. Don’t leave them in there any longer, or they will break down and turn soggy. Arrange the soaked biscuits in a layer on the base of a 16cm x 20cm (6¼in x 8in) serving dish or 8 individual ramekins. Once you have a single layer of biscuits, spread a third of the chocolate mixture on top and level the surface with the back of a spoon. Repeat the process, alternating a layer of biscuits and a layer of chocolate buttercream, until you have 3 layers of each. Cover the pudding and refrigerate for 2–3 hours until the buttercream firms up.
- 4. To serve, cut into square portions and sprinkle the roughly chopped cashew nuts on top.
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