Paul’s- Chocolate Bites for Learner Mum

I’m not maternal…..at all!

I’ve been asked over the years if I ever wanted children and the answer is always the same….quick and fast NO!!!! I’ll leave that to Elton and David ta very much!

I love my nieces and nephew and would do anything for them but there’s nothing nicer than force feeding them tons of sugary goodness and handing them back to their parents absolutely hyper and leaving them to deal with it!

When Jo asked me for another recipe to go along with “Learner Mum” I knew this was the recipe for it, these chocolate bites are ideal and easy to make for kids or better yet for adults.

I got the initial recipe from a TV chef a little while ago and like most recipe I took it and adapted it to my specifications. (funnily enough she came in to the pub shortly after I made them and when I’d said that I’d had a go at making these she confessed that she didn’t really like them)

So I made these a few months ago for two reasons, one was my nephews 11^th birthday (his mum was delighted that I hadn’t made a HUGE cake for him to eat and the other was to take over to a friend who had invited me for lunch, I popped them into a large clear container, took pots of butterscotch schnapps crème Chantilly and salted caramel sauce and watched her produce the BIGGEST grin and giggle with delight …..Especially when she had a cake bite covered with chocolate and popping candy dipped in cream and caramel (much nicer than a bunch of flowers)

Both were delighted and that’s what counts.

So have a go, treat the kids or make them for you and your friends and transport yourself back to childhood and sweet chocolaty delights.

Chocolate cake bites/pops

These are a fantastic treat for adults and kids alike!

What you will need

For the Vanilla Sponge (this can be halved for a smaller sponge)

2 cups of flour (500ml) + 30ml of flour       

                    (change the small amount to Cocoa powder for a chocolate sponge)
2 cups of sugar
125g butter
1 cup of boiled water
4 large eggs
4 tsp baking powder
2 tsp vanilla
Pinch of salt (1/4 tsp)

A large bar or two of cooking chocolate (any flavour)

Cake toppings or decorations of your choosing (popping candy, crushed Maltesers, mini M&M’s, crushed nuts or whatever your choice)

Medium sized cupcake cases & lolly pop sticks (optional)

Method:
Preheat fan oven to 180°c.
Grease tins and line.
Cream the sugar and eggs until they’re fluffy and pale. 
Sift in dry ingredients and mix gently.
Melt butter and boiling water (in microwave MUST boil and mix immediately).
Add vanilla (don't over mix).
Bake for 25-30 minutes
Cake will smell baked, and the skewer will come out clean.
Cool slightly, turn out of tin and cool completely.

(Or cheat and buy a Madeira sponge from the supermarket)

Crème Chantilly

1 x pot of double cream

1 x tbsp. icing sugar

A dash of Vanilla Extract

To make an adults version substitute the extract for 25ml x Kahlua or butterscotch schnapps

Pour cream into a mixing bowl, add sugar and liqueur and whisk until soft peaks

 How to make the cake bites

1. Let the sponge cool completely and break up in a bowl

2. Make or buy a readymade buttercream and add two or three tablespoons to the broken sponge

3. Get your hands in there and mix thoroughly before moulding into small bowls (maybe weigh so all are equal size)

4. Pop the cake balls onto some greaseproof/silicone paper on a tray and place into the freezer for 20 minutes

5. Melt some cooking chocolate in a bowl over a pan of boiling water (don’t let the water touch the bottom of the bowl)

5.take the cake balls out of the freezer and using a couple of spoons put them into the melted chocolate one by one, as you take them out, either roll them in a bowl with your chosen coating or place them into the cupcake cases and sprinkle with the decorations.

6. Leave for the chocolate to set (or to speed it up, pop them into the fridge)

7. Serve as either a bite or get a pop stick and push through the cupcake case (the case will catch all the bits that crumble so you don’t lose any)

8. Have a bowl of caramel/chocolate sauce to dip in and some crème Chantilly (substitute the vanilla for Kahlua or Butterscotch Schnapps for the grownups).

9. Scoff away to your hearts delight and watch the kid’s faces as they’ll think all their birthdays and Christmases have come at once ;)