Panettone Chocolate Torte: The Christmas Pudding alternative by Brett Pistorius.

Makes a 10 inch round family sized cake ring, or 11 individual 70mm x3.5mm desserts ring portions.

Ingredients:

500g Panettone

150g Ground almonds

165g Unsalted Butter

150g Caster sugar

400g Dark chocolate

4 eggs

1 vanilla pod

200g Mascarpone cream cheese

150g Seville orange marmalade

25g Flaked almonds

Method:

-Turn the whole panettone into fine bread crumbs, then add the ground almonds and set aside in a large bowl.

-Into a medium saucepan, add the unsalted butter and place over a medium low heat to completely melt it. Once the butter has all melted you must add the dark chocolate and melt it into the butter.

-In a bowl add the eggs and sugar; with the scrapings of the inside of the vanilla pod then whisk it all together to create a smooth vanilla wet mixture.

-Add the mascarpone cream cheese to the wet egg and vanilla mixture, whisk this smooth again.

-Add the melted chocolate and butter mix from the sauce pan to the wet mix, and stir this through.

-Pour the wet mixture into the bowl with the crumbed panettone and almonds, then using a spatula, fold the whole mixture together until a paste is formed.

-Separate the mixture into piping bags and set aside.

-Grease the cake or dessert rings with butter/one spray baking oil.

-Fill the rings with even amounts; the dessert rings will be full to the top.

-Level the mixtures flat, then sprinkle the flaked almonds over the top

-Add the uncooked torte mix to the oven and bake at 165 deg C.

-The family sized portion will take about 35 minutes to cook, and the individuals 14 minutes

-Once the puddings are done, there should be a temperature reading of 87 deg C, this will allow for reheating at a later time or for service.

-To add a little extra fruity citrus hit, I use the Seville orange marmalade let down with a little water and heated up, to glaze the torte and let it shine.

-To serve, I would recommend it warm. It’s perfect to heat up in a microwave, and brilliant if served with ice cream made with cream liquor such like Ammarula even Baileys.