Odlums Chocolate Christmas Pudding

125g/4oz Odlums Self Raising Flour

125g/4oz Butter (softened)

125g/4oz Caster Sugar

2 large Eggs (beaten)

1 tbsp Cocoa Powder

125g /4oz Plain Chocolate (melted)

50g Shamrock Pecan Nuts (chopped)

15ml/1tbsp Milk

125g/4oz Plain Chocolate, broken into pieces

25g/1oz Butter

30ml/2 tbsp Golden Syrup

Preheat oven to 150°C/300°F/Gas Mark 2. Butter and line the base of a 900ml / 1 ½ pint pudding bowl with a circle of greaseproof paper or butter wrapper.
Place the butter and sugar in a large bowl and beat until pale and creamy. Gradually beat in the eggs a little at a time (add a spoonful of flour if the mixture begins to curdle).
Sift together the flour and cocoa powder and fold into the mixture with the melted chocolate, chopped pecans and milk.
Spoon the mixture into the bowl and cover with a round of greased and pleated greaseproof paper tied securely with fine string. Cover with pleated foil.
Steam for 1 ½ hours (see directions below) until the pudding is risen and firm to the touch and a skewer inserted into the sponge comes out clean.
For the chocolate sauce, place all the ingredients in a heat-proof bowl, set over a pan of simmering water and leave until melted. Remove from the heat and stir to make a smooth sauce.
Turn the pudding out on to a plate, while warm. Pour over some of the chocolate sauce and serve the remaining sauce on the side. Enjoy!