Chocolate Steamed Pudding

You will need a 900g (2 lb) pudding basin, greased with a little butter, greased greaseproof paper and foil to cover the top of the basin and a little string to secure the paper and foil.

Place a steamer on to boil and then lower to a simmer in readiness for cooking the pudding.

In a large mixing bowl add the butter and caster sugar and beat together until light and fluffy. Add one egg at a time beating in until fluffy and fully combined.

Sift the flour and coco powder together fold gently into the mixture. Add enough milk to make the mixture into a dropping consistency and mix until all combined. Lastly fold in the chopped chocolate of your choice.

Spoon the mixture into the prepared pudding basin filling it three-quarters full and with a spoon level the top.

Make a circle large enough to fold a pleat in the middle to place on top of the pudding, leaving enough to come down the sides, do the same with the foil too. After placing the greaseproof paper and foil on top of the pudding basin, tie string around the top half of the basin and secure tightly, then take the string over the top of the pudding tying down to make a handle to lift the pudding out. Place the pudding into the steamer and steam for 2 hours, do not let the steamer boil dry and replenish the water as necessary.