Chocolate Crispy Christmas Puddings

Thursday night, home late from work, kids tired and grumpy when I pick them up from childminder, get them home and stop them killing each other while I try to get dinner ready. Feed the monsters, do homework, finally get them to bed all the while imagining the bliss of flopping onto the sofa and not moving except to make a coffee...

Then remember it's the school Christmas fair the next day and I'm supposed to provide a plate of cakes. Oh bother...

Then it leaves the usual dilemma...

Cake with wheat and egg, or cake without? Decided on Chocolate Crispies, then realised the only dairy free 'milk' chocolate I have is Moo Free and School is nut free. Thank goodness for Mortimer's...

60g/ 2 oz Dairy and Soya free spread (Pure/Vitalite)

3 table spoons golden syrup

100g suitable chocolate (I used Mortimer's)

20g Marshmallows

90g/ 3 oz Rice Krispies

Ready roll icing and silver balls (check ingredients well as some contain wheat) to decorate

Slowly melt spread, syrup, chocolate and marshmallows over a gently heat (or in short bursts in the microwave).

When smooth and glossy, pour onto rice krispies and mix well to coat.

Spoon into paper cases (or leave to cool slightly and roll into balls before putting in cases).

Roll icing thinly onto greaseproof pastry dusted generously with icing sugar.

Cut out small stars, circles or snowflakes to top the chocolate crispy and push in a silver ball before icing dries out.


Then get on and try and figure out how you are going to get hold of a yellow top at this time of year for your son to be a chick (yes, that does say chick?!) in the school Nativity...