- ¼ pound plus 1 tablespoon butter
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 5 egg yolks
- 3 ounces melted semi-sweet chocolate
- 1 tablespoon rum, or 2 tablespoons strongly brewed black coffee
- ½ cups grated, unblanched almonds
- 3 tablespoons white bread, pumpernickel or zwieback crumbs
- 5 egg whites stiffly beaten
- Butter, for the mold
- Sugar, for the mold
- Cream butter with sugar until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in one egg yolk at a time until thoroughly blended. Stir in melted chocolate along with rum or coffee; add almonds and crumbs. Fold in stiffly beaten egg whites gently but thoroughly, using a rubber spatula. Butter a melon mold and sprinkle inside with sugar, tapping out excess. Turn filling into mold, which should be about two-thirds full. Cover and set in water bath that comes two-thirds up the sides of the mold. Steam 1 to 1½ hours, or until pudding is completely set, and let stand for a few minutes after it is done. Uncover and invert onto serving platter.