See Also: Fruit and nut chocolate chip loaf with hot chocolate(recipes)
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chocolate chip cookie(dictionary)
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Fruit and nut chocolate chip loaf with hot chocolate (recipes)






Serves 4-6



Preparation time

1-2 hours



Cooking time

30 mins to 1 hour

















Ingredients



For the loaf100g/3½oz dried apricots, chopped150ml/5fl oz orange juice100g/3½oz ground almonds100g/3½oz butter100g/3½oz light muscavado sugar2 free-range eggs175g/6oz self-raising flour4 tbsp milk50g/2oz glacé cherries, chopped75g/2¾oz chocolate chips75g/2¾oz pecansicing sugar, to dustFor the hot chocolate250g/9oz dark chocolate (70 per cent cocoa solids), broken into pieces400ml/14fl oz milk1 cinnamon stick250ml/9oz condensed milk225ml/8oz whipping cream, whipped until stiff peaks form when the whisk is removed



Method



1. Preheat the oven to 180C/355F/Gas 4.2. For the loaf, place the apricots and orange juice into a saucepan over a high heat and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for five minutes, or until the orange juice has almost completely evaporated. Remove from the heat and leave to cool.3. Place the ground almonds, butter, sugar, eggs, flour and milk into a large bowl and mix well until a smooth dough is formed.4. Add the cooled apricots, the cherries, the chocolate chips and 55g/2oz of the pecans and mix well.5. Line a loaf tin with greased baking paper. Transfer the dough to the loaf tin and top with the remaining pecans. Transfer to the oven to bake for 50-60 minutes, or until cooked through, then remove and leave to cool.6. Once the loaf has cooled, turn out onto a plate and dust with icing sugar.7. For the hot chocolate, place the chocolate into a bowl resting over a saucepan of barely simmering water (make sure the water doesn' t touch the bottom of the bowl) and heat until the chocolate has melted.8. Place the milk and cinnamon stick into a clean saucepan over a very low heat and warm, without boiling, for 10-12 minutes.9. Remove the cinnamon stick and whisk in the melted chocolate and the condensed milk until the liquids are completely combined and smooth.10 To serve, pour the hot chocolate into a mug and top with a good dollop of the whipped cream. Serve with a slice of the loaf alongside.