Flourless chocolate fondants

Method

• step 1

  For the filling, pour the cream into a saucepan and warm over a low heat until steaming. Remove from the heat and stir in the chocolate and brandy until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth. Tip into a small bowl, sprinkle over a small pinch of sea salt and chill for at least 1 hr until set. When ready, it should be firm enough to roll into a ball. Divide the mixture into four and roll each portion into a ball, then put on a plate or tray and keep chilled until needed.

• step 2

  Melt 25g of the butter in the microwave and use this to brush the insides of four mini pudding moulds or ramekins. Dust with the cocoa, shaking out any excess. Tip the chocolate and remaining butter into a small heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, ensuring the bowl doesn’t touch the water, and stir until melted and combined. Beat the eggs and sugar together in a separate bowl using an electric whisk for 4-5 mins until pale and fluffy. Remove the chocolate mix from the heat and gently fold in the whipped egg mix to combine. Fill each mould just a third of the way up with the fondant mixture, then drop a ball of filling onto the middle of each. Spoon over enough of the remaining fondant mixture to come two-thirds of the way up the sides of the moulds – you need to leave the final third free to allow for rising. Freeze for at least 4 hrs. Will keep frozen for two months.

• step 3

  To bake, heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Put as many fondants as you want to cook on a baking tray and bake for 15-18 mins until the tops have formed a crust and the fondants are starting to come away from the sides of the moulds. Leave to rest for 1 min, then loosen by running a cutlery knife around the sides of the moulds. Turn out onto plates and serve with ice cream or crème fraîche.