I agree with the negative comments i'm afraid. tried to make it for my boyfriend on valentines day. I followed the recipe exactly and measured everything. Only cooked it for 30 minutes and it was almost burnt on the top. The inside was dry and flavourless and was in a soppy mush of brown water. Practically inedible and through it in the bin.

Great recipe, i skip the marshmallows though.
Made this a couple times for kids camps and it goes down an absolute storm. Serving size overly generous though, i reckon the recipe as is would serve 14 easily. For kids i multiplied by five and managed to feed 90 (just!). If upscaling be prepare to cook for longer. Dead simple and tastes great.

This is the same as what some may know as the 'Chocolate Puddle Pudding.' This pudding has been a favourite of mine for many years - a common pudding to have when friends come round. It is basically foolproof - ever so simple, and so moist because of all the juice. Excellent for chocaholics!!

Fantastic recipe my mum loved it intact she is buying me all the ingredients so I can make it for her AGAIN!

Great recipe! It has been requested as Xmas pus! Did half with marshmallow half without! Either was delicious, didn't add all the sugar, seemed far too much, I think it could have taken more! Needs good quality cocoa powder! Thinking about adding cherry liqueur next!

Absolutely amazing ! And so easy! Felt very odd pouring water all over my cake but wow !!

Fantastic and easy. Tastes like a giant chocolate fondant but glad I left out the marshmallow as it was rich enough. The recipe method sounded weird but worked brilliantly

Just took this bake out of the oven after a very long wait! It was great fun to make but the final outcome is atrocious! It is dry cake on top and then underneath the inch thick cake there is absolutely loads of water and just chocolatey liquid. It tastes awful and for the amount of ingredients and cost is such a waste. I am so dissapointed!

Delicious, very sweet pudding that was much loved by all. (I agree that the marshmallows could be optional - they're better raw!)

Absolutely fantastic - genious Mr Torode.

This was the kids' choice for pudding on my daughter's birthday this week. A big hit - we were feeding six people, we all had seconds and there are plenty of leftovers (which are nice cold). Bonus that it can be made ahead and chilled until baking. Only change I made was to use less sugar on the top as 450g seemed a huge amount. Served with good vanilla ice cream. Yum!

Gorgeously gooey chocolate pud. Was amazed at the amount of sugar and the boiling water very odd! It turned out perfect and will defo make again but will leave off marshmallows they were too sweet.

not sure where I went wrong but because I followed the recipe to the letter. I ended up with a nice light sponge but a puddle of chocolate water in the base.
For my tasted, this lacked something (chocolate) - won't be making this again

Has anyone tried halving this recipe? There are only three people in my family, so a dish for ten will be far too big! If anyone has, could you please tell me how this affects cooking time? I was thinking of dividing it by three, but the same theory would apply. Thanks, it sounds yummy!

I tried this as I had all the ignreidents (except for the marshmallows which I didn't bother with). Very easy prepare ahead recipe. I did a third of the recipe and it was enough for three fairly large portions. I didn't use as much of the topping as the recipe stated as it just looked like an insane amount of sugar - I used about two thirds as much as I should have done and about 50 mls less water but it still made a lovely sauce. It wasn't quite 'chocolately' enough though - next time I will add some chocolate chips and I like the idea of adding orange zest too.

ABSOLUTLY AMAZING
ive never really made cakes before and being a mallows lover i thought id try this, it was so so easy, and i was so amazed even me (a none cooker) could make somethig so yummie! it went in a flash.

i did feel very odd pouring water all over my cake, but that what it said.....and WOW.
DEFO WORTH A TRY.

PS USE PRINCESS MARHSMALLOWS!!! YUM YUM

Great store cupboard recipe for a large crowd. I don't use the marshmallows as my family doesnt like melted ones. Sauce could do with being a bit thicker. Very rich dessert

This dish went down an absolute storm with my children (ages, 25, 24, 22, 20). I followed the recipe exactly and was very concerned when I poured the boiling water on the top. I thought no way is this going to work. To my absolute amazement 45 minutes later, it had transformed into this lovely pudding. I served it with plain vanilla icecream and it was absolutely delicious. I didnt put the marshmallows on like others have said as I dont think it needs it. I am going to do this again on Christmas day for those who dont like Christmas Pudding. I like others hadnt realised the receipe was for 10 people and I had a lot left over. Will probably reduce by half next time. Dont hesitate to give this a try. You wont be disappointed.

Don't usually comment but was so disappointed with this, which had seemed so promising.
Tasted of flour & cocoa powder, and the "muddy pond" effect was rather off-putting.
What a waste ! Binned it.

Made this today, absolutely lovely but still cleaning out the bottom of the oven. I used a 3ltr dish and it still came over the sides. Will definately make it again though.