A sweet alternative to muddy puddles

When the children want to play in muddy puddles and you really can't be doing with it, suggest you make your own muddy puddles of the chocolate variety.... Fun to do and delicious to eat! It can be messy and yummy - surely a hit with children. I know it's a hit with mine, every time!

If your child is at the age where they can measure things out by themselves they could do most of this by themselves. My children are at the age where I have to measure things out and do the hot bits. Always show caution when you're doing things in the kitchen with children, only you know the capabilities of your child.


You need to decide if you want to make one large muddy puddle pudding or several smaller ones.

Pudding Mix
65g / 2.3oz self raising flour
4 tbsp cocoa powder
½ tsp baking powder
80g / 2.8oz butter (at room temperature)
80g / 2.8oz soft brown sugar
3 medium eggs (at room temperature)

Sauce Mix
3 tbsp cocoa powder
50g / 1.7oz soft brown sugar
200ml / Between ¼ and ½ pint of hot water

Pre-heat the oven to 180C / 350F or Gas Mark 4.

Make the sauce first - Mix the cocoa and sugar in a bowl, add a little of the hot water and mix to a paste. Gradually add the rest of the water and mix until the sugar has dissolved.

Butter a 1 litre / 1 ¾ pint oven-proof dish (or eight ramekin sized pots) and stand it, or them on a baking sheet.
Then make the pudding by mixing all of the ingredients together in a bowl until smooth(ish), there will still be small lumps and that's fine. Here's the exciting part, you can mix it with your hands or you can use a wooden spoon. Children love doing this with their hands – that's probably obvious for some children!. If you're going to go for this option I would suggest they are wearing old clothes that don't matter if they get messed up, and have it in mind that everything they are wearing will probably need washing straight afterwards.
Pour and scrape the pudding mixture into the oven-proof dish or dishes & cover with the sauce.
If doing individual puddings half fill with the pudding mix, then add just enough sauce to cover. They should be no more than three quarters full. There needs to be enough room for them to rise.
Place the dish or dishes on a baking tray in the middle of the oven. Bake for 12-15 minutes for individual puddings and 20 to 25 minutes for one large pudding. The pudding(s) should have risen well by then and the magic should have taken place with the sauce on the bottom and the cakey/pudding on the top.

Warning – Let them cool before you try or it can scald your mouth! They can be eaten on their own, but they're also delicious eaten with custard or cream or ice cream. They're also good cold straight from the fridge with a cup of coffee when the children are out - yummy!.

Note: These are not an every day food as they have a high sugar content - definitely an occasional treat!

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This Post was written by Amanda from Little Foodies