Quick, simple and utterly dreamy; Melissa Hemsley’s chocolate pots are our new go-to pud. Taken from her new cookbook, Feel Good
IMAGE: LIZZIE MAYSON
These are so simple and delicious, plus they’re plant-based! If you want to make them in advance, they’ll keep for three days in the fridge. I love them made with just the three ingredients – hazelnut milk works particularly well. But if you want to go to town, try adding extra toppings – whatever you have in your cupboard! These are quite rich, so they happily feed six. You’ll need six ramekins or glasses/jars – tea cups would look lovely; just avoid delicate glasses that might crack under the hot mix.
Three-Ingredient Chocolate Pots
Ingredients
- 180 g Medjool dates about 10 large dates
- 250 ml nut milk
- 160 g dark (50%–70%) chocolate
- A little pinch of sea salt plus extra to serve (optional)
optional toppings
- Dollop of plant-based cream
- Chopped toasted hazelnuts or pecans
- Pitted cherries or fresh pomegranate seeds
- Raspberries or strawberries
- Crushed biscuits such as ginger nut or digestive
Instructions
- Roughly tear the dates, discarding the pits, and soak in just-boiled water for 10 minutes. Even though Medjool dates are soft anyway, this helps soften them further, which is good for any blenders that might need a helping hand.
- Heat up the nut milk in a saucepan, being careful not to boil, and remove from the heat once it’s heated through.
- Meanwhile, finely slice about 2 tablespoons of the chocolate to create some chocolate ‘shavings’ and set aside for garnishing.
- Chop the rest of the chocolate and add to a blender or food processor, then pour over the hot nut milk. Drain the soaked dates and add them with the salt, then carefully blend until smooth.
- Divide the mixture between 6 ramekins or glasses (see introduction) and chill in the fridge for 4 hours until set. Cover them if you’re keeping them there any longer, so they don’t pick up ‘fridge’ smells. Scatter over the chocolate shavings, plus a tiny extra sprinkle of sea salt, if you like, or add any of the other toppings to serve.
Notes
Recipe extract from Feel Good: Quick and Easy Recipes for Comfort and Joy by Melissa Hemsley (Ebury Press, £22). Photography by Lizzie Mayson.
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