Balls of deliciousness

I think this recipe has to be my favourite one for Christmas (apart from my mum's ice cream cake). This year, I've attempted to make mini Christmas puddings more classy but I don't know how effective it was. Usually, I just make the balls and then put a little bit of red cherry, two cherry "leaves" and a drizzle of white chocolate on the top so it looks like custard and a holly sprig. This time I've dipped them in chocolate. While this was trickier than I anticipated, they did taste awesome.

These got a little heat-effected but you get the idea

Mini Christmas Puddings
1/2 cup raisins
1/4 - 1/2 cup of cherry brandy (or regular brandy, whatever)
1 store-bought chocolate cake (about 300gms)
1/2 cup glace cherries (chopped)
1/2 cup roasted slivered almonds
200gms dark chocolate

Topping/Coating
300gms dark chocolate
OR
1 packet of multi-coloured cherries
200gms white chocolate

Soak the raisins in 1/4 cup of brandy while you get everything else ready.
Crumble the chocolate cake into a large bowl and leave to the side. If it dries out a bit in the process, all the better.
Add the raisin mixture, cherries and almonds to the chocolate cake and stir in well.
Melt the chocolate and stir in to the cake mixture until well combined. If the mixture is too dry, add some more brandy.
Roll the mixture into small balls and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

Either dip each ball into the extra melted dark chocolate or top with a drizzle of melted white chocolate and small pieces of cherry to look like holly. Refrigerate again until completely set.