Upside Down Pear Pudding With Chocolate Hazelnut Sauce

• 1 cup sweet dessert wine
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3 small pears, peeled, cored and quartered
• 1 1/2 cups dried dates, chopped
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 12 tbsp (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 None eggs, at room temperature
• 1 1/3 cups self-rising flour, sifted
• 2/3 cup walnuts, finely chopped
• 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 7 oz semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 cup hazelnut liqueur, such as Frangelico

1. Place wine and granulated sugar in a medium saucepan on medium heat. Stir until sugar has dissolved. Add pears and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low; cook for 20 mins, until just tender. Cool.
2. Grease 2-quart pudding mold. Line bottom with parchment paper. Arrange 1/2 the pears on the bottom of the mold.
3. Meanwhile, combine dates and 1 1/4 cups water in a medium saucepan on high heat. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Add baking soda. Let stand for 5 mins. Blend or process until smooth.
4. Beat 10 tbsp (1 1/4 sticks) butter, brown sugar and vanilla in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in date mixture, flour, walnuts and cocoa. Pour into prepared pudding mold. Cover with foil and secure with kitchen string. Place in a large saucepan. Add enough boiling water to come halfway up side of mold. Boil, covered, for 2 1/2 hours, adding more boiling water as needed. Remove mold from water; let stand on wire rack for 10 mins.
5. Meanwhile, place chocolate, cream and remaining 2 tbsp butter in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Stir until melted and smooth. Remove from heat. Stir in liqueur.
6. Carefully invert pudding mold onto a serving plate. Serve with sauce and remaining pears.

sweet dessert wine, granulated sugar, pears, dates, baking soda, butter, brown sugar, vanilla, eggs, flour, walnuts, cocoa, semisweet chocolate, heavy cream, hazelnut liqueur

Taken from recipes-plus.com/api/v2.0/recipes/30611 (may not work)