Dessert Recipes - Magali Recipe

Ingredients

• 100 g/4 oz/1 cup plain (all-purpose) flour

• 90 g/1/2 cup butter, diced

• 10 ml/2 tsp caster (superfine) sugar

• Cold water, to mix

• 150 g/5 oz/1 1/4 cups plain (semi-sweet) chocolate

• 300 ml/1 1/4 cups double (heavy) cream

• 15 ml/1 tbsp dark rum or brandy

• A few toasted, blanched almonds, to decorate

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Method:

1. Put the flour in a bowl and rub in 50 g/2 oz/1/4 cup of the butter. Stir in the sugar and mix with enough cold water to form a firm dough.

2. Knead gently on a lightly floured surface. Wrap in Clingfilm (plastic wrap) and chill for 30 minutes.

3. Roll out and use to line four individual flan dishes (pie pans). Prick the bases with a fork and fill with crumpled foil.

4. Bake in a preheated oven at 200°C/400°F/gas mark 6 for 8 minutes. Remove the foil and return to the oven for 5 minutes to dry out. Remove from the oven and leave to cool.

5. Meanwhile, break the chocolate into pieces and place in a saucepan with the remaining butter and 120 ml/1/2 cup of the cream.

6. Heat gently, stirring until melted, then beat until thick. Beat in the rum or brandy. If the mixture starts to separate, stir in 5 ml/1 tsp cold water.

7. Spoon into the flan cases (pie shells). Leave to cool, then chill. Whip the remaining cream and use to decorate the Bans. Top with the toasted almonds.