Chocolate brownie & boozy cherry brûlées

• double cream↗375ml ml
• vanilla pod↗1

  split and seeds scraped out

• plain chocolate↗85g g

  70% cocoa, broken into small pieces

• large egg yolks↗3
• caster sugar↗50g g

  plus 6 tbsp

• ready-made chocolate brownies3

  (up to about 200g), cut into chunks

• cherry↗50g g

  in kirsch (or about 3 cherries per brûlée), drained, plus more to serve if you like

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Put the cream into a saucepan with the vanilla seeds, then bring just to the boil. Take off the heat and stir in the chocolate until it has completely melted.

2. 2

   Boil the kettle. Meanwhile, whisk together egg yolks and 50g sugar for 20-30 seconds until thick and pale, then stir in the creamy chocolate. Divide the brownie pieces and cherries between six 200ml ramekins or dishes, drizzle with a little of the kirsch from the jar, then pour over the chocolate mix.

3. 3

   Line a roasting tin with a clean tea towel and stand the ramekins in the tin. Pour hot water halfway up the sides of the ramekins, cover the whole thing with foil, then cook for 40 mins until just set. Chill for at least 3 hrs. These can be baked and chilled up to 2 days in advance.

4. 4

   One hour before serving, make the sugary crust. Put the 6 tbsp sugar into a non-stick pan and melt evenly over a gentle heat. Once the sugar has turned a rich caramel colour, spoon it over the puddings and leave to set hard.