Chocolate Christmas pudding cheesecake recipe
 Turn to the dark side with a baked chocolate cheesecake studded with spiced Christmas pudding on a bourbon biscuit base. 125g/4½oz bourbon biscuits65g/2½oz butter, melted100g/3½oz good-quality dark chocolate, minimum 70 per cent cocoa solids200g/7oz full-fat cream cheese400g/14oz ricotta75g/2½oz golden caster sugar3 eggs40g/1½oz cocoa powder125g/4½oz good-qualty Christmas pudding, cooked, crumbled into pieces (optional) 125g/4½oz bourbon biscuits 65g/2½oz butter, melted 100g/3½oz good-quality dark chocolate, minimum 70 per cent cocoa solids 200g/7oz full-fat cream cheese 400g/14oz ricotta 75g/2½oz golden caster sugar 3 eggs 40g/1½oz cocoa powder 125g/4½oz good-qualty Christmas pudding, cooked, crumbled into pieces (optional) 125g/4½oz good-quality dark chocolate, minimum 70 per cent cocoa solids125ml/4½fl oz double cream15g/½oz butter 125g/4½oz good-quality dark chocolate, minimum 70 per cent cocoa solids 125ml/4½fl oz double cream 15g/½oz butter good-quality chocolate, gratedcocoa powder, for dustingclotted cream, to serve good-quality chocolate, grated cocoa powder, for dusting clotted cream, to serve Method Preheat the oven to 180C/ 350F/Gas 4.For the cheesecake, crush the bourbon biscuits into crumbs and place into a bowl. Pour over the melted butter. Press into a 20cm/8in spring-form cake tin to form the base.Place the chocolate in a bowl over barely simmering water and melt, making sure the water doesn't touch the bottom of the bowl.Place the cream cheese, ricotta and sugar in a food processor and blend until smooth. Next add the eggs, then the cocoa powder and the melted chocolate. Stir in the Christmas pudding, if using.Spoon the mixture onto the base. Place the cake in the oven and cook for approximately 45 minutes, or until cake is springy to the touch. Allow to cool in the tin.When cool, turn out of the tin and top with chopped or grated chocolate and a dusting of cocoa.For the sauce, place the chocolate and cream in a clean bowl over a pan of simmering water and melt, making sure the water doesn't touch the bottom of the bowl. When melted, whisk in the butter. The sauce must be prepared just before the cake is served, because it can't be reheated.Serve large slices with a big spoonful of sauce and a dollop of clotted cream. Dust the edge of the plate with cocoa. Preheat the oven to 180C/ 350F/Gas 4. Preheat the oven to 180C/ 350F/Gas 4. For the cheesecake, crush the bourbon biscuits into crumbs and place into a bowl. Pour over the melted butter. Press into a 20cm/8in spring-form cake tin to form the base. For the cheesecake, crush the bourbon biscuits into crumbs and place into a bowl. Pour over the melted butter. Press into a 20cm/8in spring-form cake tin to form the base. Place the chocolate in a bowl over barely simmering water and melt, making sure the water doesn't touch the bottom of the bowl. Place the chocolate in a bowl over barely simmering water and melt, making sure the water doesn't touch the bottom of the bowl. Place the cream cheese, ricotta and sugar in a food processor and blend until smooth. Place the cream cheese, ricotta and sugar in a food processor and blend until smooth. Next add the eggs, then the cocoa powder and the melted chocolate. Stir in the Christmas pudding, if using. Next add the eggs, then the cocoa powder and the melted chocolate. Stir in the Christmas pudding, if using. Spoon the mixture onto the base. Place the cake in the oven and cook for approximately 45 minutes, or until cake is springy to the touch. Allow to cool in the tin. Spoon the mixture onto the base. Place the cake in the oven and cook for approximately 45 minutes, or until cake is springy to the touch. Allow to cool in the tin. When cool, turn out of the tin and top with chopped or grated chocolate and a dusting of cocoa. When cool, turn out of the tin and top with chopped or grated chocolate and a dusting of cocoa. For the sauce, place the chocolate and cream in a clean bowl over a pan of simmering water and melt, making sure the water doesn't touch the bottom of the bowl. When melted, whisk in the butter. The sauce must be prepared just before the cake is served, because it can't be reheated. For the sauce, place the chocolate and cream in a clean bowl over a pan of simmering water and melt, making sure the water doesn't touch the bottom of the bowl. When melted, whisk in the butter. The sauce must be prepared just before the cake is served, because it can't be reheated. Serve large slices with a big spoonful of sauce and a dollop of clotted cream. Dust the edge of the plate with cocoa. Serve large slices with a big spoonful of sauce and a dollop of clotted cream. Dust the edge of the plate with cocoa.