Fudgy Chocolate Muffins

Makes about 20

Ingredients (muffins)

• 5 tbsps GALAXY® Hot Chocolate
• 100g GALAXY® chocolate, chopped
• 200ml water
• 225g plain flour
• 85g unsalted butter
• 85g golden caster sugar
• 1 tbsp golden syrup
• 6 tbsps milk
• 1 tsp vanilla essence
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

Ingredients (icing)

• 200g GALAXY® chocolate, chopped
• 350g icing sugar
• 50g unsalted butter
• 7 tbsp warm water

Preparation

Preheat oven to 180° C/350° F/Gas Mark 4. Place water, sugar, golden syrup, butter and 3 tbsps of the milk in a saucepan. Heat gently, stirring continuously until sugar has dissolved before bringing to the boil. Reduce heat and cook gently for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool.

Place 3 tbsps of the milk into a small bowl. Add the vanilla essence and bicarbonate of soda, stirring to dissolve. Into a separate bowl, sift the flour and GALAXY® hot chocolate powder. Add the syrup mixture and milk mixture and beat until smooth. Whilst mixture is still warm add chopped GALAXY® chocolate and stir.

Carefully spoon the mixture into paper bun cases, arranged in 2 bun tins. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes or until firm to the touch. Allow to cool. To make icing place the GALAXY® chocolate in a medium sized heatproof bowl with the butter and 4 tbsps of the water and set over a saucepan of simmering water until melted. Stir until smooth. Add the icing sugar and remaining 3 tbsps of water gradually, stirring until smooth. Spread onto each bun using the back of a metal spoon. You can decorate each bun with crystallised rose petals or violets for a Valentine's day touch or with chocolate curls or chopped hazelnuts.