Dessert Recipes - Season's Greetings Jelly Recipe

Ingredients

• 225 g/8 oz/1 packet of dried fruit salad

• 50 g/2 oz1/2 cup glace (candied) cherries

• 300 ml/1 1/4 cups water

• 15 ml/1 tbsp brandy

• 2 packets of black cherry-flavored jelly (jello) tablets

• 50 g/2 oz/1/2 cup plain (semi-sweet) chocolate

• A few holly leaves

• 150 ml/2/3 cup double (heavy) cream, whipped

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Method:

1. Soak the fruit salad and cherries in the water and brandy for at least 3 hours or overnight. Drain off any liquid into a measuring jug.

2. Chop the fruit, discarding any stones (pits). Make up the liquid to 1 liter/4 1/4 cups with water.

3. Dissolve the jelly tablets in a little of the measured liquid in a saucepan (or dissolve in a bowl in the microwave). Remove from the heat and stir in the remaining liquid.

4. Chill until the consistency of egg white. Stir in the chopped fruit and turn into a wetted 1.25 liter/5 1/2 cup pudding basin. Chill until set.

5. Meanwhile, melt the chocolate in a small bowl over a pan of hot water or in the microwave.

6. Dip the holly leaves in the chocolate to coat on one side. Leave to dry on a sheet of greaseproof (waxed) paper. Chill until firm, then gently peel off the holly to leave chocolate leaves.

7. When ready to serve, dip the basin briefly in a bowl of hot water, then turn the jelly out on to a serving plate.

8. Pipe or spoon the whipped cream on top and decorate with the chocolate holly leaves.