Chocolate Orange Slow Cooker Pudding

I have a confession to make. I prefer Easter treats to Christmas. Easter chocolate is so much better and for some reason people think that because it's Christmas you have to shove dried fruit in everything. Well no. I've had enough. No mince pies. No Panettone. No Christmas pudding. I just don't like them. So every Christmas I buy little chocolate puddings to after Christmas dinner.

Well this year that's not happening. Because I'm making something that's even better. This slow cooker chocolate orange pudding. The soft sponge with chocolate orange flavouring and don't even get me started on that sticky sauce that's waiting for you at the bottom. Dollop on a huge spoonful of thick cream and your done. 

It's so tasty that those Christmas pudding eaters are going to be jealous! In all seriousness you need to give this a go. Even if you can't bake it really can't go wrong. You just mix dry and wet ingredients chuck it in the slow cooker and let it do it's magic. 

Merry Christmas!

Chocolate Orange Slow Cooker Pudding

- serves 6 - 

100g butter, plus extra for greasing

225g self-raising flour

150g caster sugar

75g cocoa powder

5g baking powder

2 tsp orange flavouring

3 medium eggs

150ml full fat milk

100g chocolate orange. broken into pieces (save the rest for decoration)

For the sauce:

200g light brown sugar

25g cocoa 

Lightly grease the slow cooker bowl.

In a large mixing bowl combine the flour, caster sugar, cocoa and a pinch of salt. 

Whisk together the eggs, melted butter, orange flavouring and milk.

Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix.

Stir in the chocolate orange pieces and place the mixture into the slow cooker. 

Make the sauce by mixing the brown sugar and cocoa powder with 280ml boiling water. Pour over the pudding mixture.

Place the lid onto the slow cooker and cook on high for 1 1/2 hours. 

Serve with extra thick cream.