Chocolate Pudding with Mixed Fresh Berries

I like dark, spongy chocolate pudding and I like fresh berries, so a dessert that features both makes me smile.  This pudding is of a 'self-saucing' kind.   You make the chocolate batter first, then the sauce by pouring hot water over a mixture of brown sugar and cocoa powder sprinkled on top of the batter in a baking dish.  When it comes out of the oven, the cake-like bottom rises to the top and sits above the syrupy chocolate sauce underneath.  Quite intriguing a cooking process but not difficult to achieve at all.  Use the best quality cocoa powder you can get your hands on.  Serve with a generous portion of mixed berries and a dollop of thick cream or vanilla ice-cream on the side.  It's an absolute treat.  

Serves 6-8

INGREDIENTS

• 80g / 3oz butter
• 1 egg
• ½ cup milk
• 1 cup self-raising flour
• 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
• ½ cup brown sugar
• mixed fresh berries, to serve
• thick cream or vanilla ice-cream, to serve

Chocolate sauce:

• 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1¼ cups boiling water

METHOD

1. Melt butter in a glass measuring jug by warming it up in the microwave oven for about 30 seconds on medium.  Let it cool.
2. Grease a 1.5 litre/ 34 fl oz capacity baking dish.
3. In a large bowl, add egg, milk and butter and lightly whisk.
4. Add sifted flour and cocoa powder.  Stir in sugar.  Fold in all ingredients until well combined and a smooth batter is formed.  Transfer the batter into the baking dish.  Smooth top.
5. In a separate bowl, combine cocoa powder and brown sugar.  Sprinkle the mixture onto the batter in the baking dish.
6. Put the kettle on.  Slowly pour boiling water over the back of a large metal spoon into the baking dish on top of the batter.
7. Place the baking dish onto a baking tray.  Bake in a preheated 160°C/325°F oven for 35-40 minutes, or until the pudding bounces back when pressed gently in the middle.
8. Serve hot with mixed fresh berries and cream.  (Leftovers can be kept covered with plastic wrap in the refrigerator and reheated in the microwave oven.  Loosen the plastic wrap before heating on medium for 1-2 minutes.)

Source (with adaptations): Dixie Elliott on taste.com.au