You Had Me at Cream Cheese. I Need to Make This Dessert for Christmas!

Ready to try something new and festive this Christmas? Why not take some inspiration from across the pond and make a Frozen Chocolate Bombe filled with fruits and nuts?! Also known as a Christmas pudding alternative, this recipe from Mumsnet is easier than you might guess and filled with Christmas spirit. Watch the quick video to see how it comes together, then read on for the recipe.

You’ll Need

Frozen Filling
– 7 ounces (200 grams) cream cheese
– 7 ounces (200 grams) mascarpone cheese
– Scant 2/3 cup (100 grams) confectioners’ (icing) sugar
– 2 ounces (50 grams) island mix
– 2 ounces (50 grams) fruit and seed mix
– 2 ounces (50 grams) mixed nuts
– 2 ounces (50 grams) blueberries
– 2 ounces (50 grams) raspberries, with 3 reserved for decorating
– 3 1/2 ounces (100 grams) mixed grapes, cut into halves or quarters
– 2 ounces (50 grams) segmented orange
Chocolate Coating
– 7 tablespoons (100 grams) butter
– 7 ounces (200 grams) milk or dark chocolate
Decorating
– Drizzle of melted white chocolate
– Fresh mint leaves
– Three raspberries

How To

  1. In a medium bowl, mix the cream cheese, mascarpone and confectioners’ sugar and whisk until smooth.
  2. Mix in all the fruits, nuts and seeds.
  3. Line a steam bowl or a pudding basin – a mixing bowl can work, too! – with a couple of layers of plastic wrap. (It should be 16 fluid ounce (1/2 liter) capacity, about 5 1/2 inches (14 centimeters) across and 3 inches (7 1/2 centimeters) deep.) Pour in your mixture and place it in the refrigerator to set 2 to 3 hours.
  4. Finish the pudding in the freezer for 30 minutes just to make it extra cold, which will help the chocolate set in the next steps.
  5. Once set, turn the frozen bombe upside down onto a wire rack above a plastic tray to catch the mess and remove the plastic wrap.
  6. Melt together the butter and chocolate, and pour it over the frozen bombe. Watch it set in seconds!
  7. Decorate with a puddle of white chocolate, some fresh raspberries and a sprig of mint to create a holly and ivy effect.

What a spirited frozen treat! Have you ever heard of or made anything like this dish before? What do you think of it?