Heston Blumenthal has worked his magic to turn what can be the most divisive part of a traditional Christmas dinner into a dish everyone will love - a giant 'sprout' filled with profiteroles. Available at Waitrose from December 13th, the Heston from Waitrose Melting Chocolate 'Sprout' will appeal to even the most vehement sprout haters.

The new dessert has a green chocolate dome shell which, when drizzled with warmed salted caramel sauce, melts to reveal 18 green profiterole 'sprouts' filled with a lime-flavoured Crème Patissiere. The visual effect is a pile of sprouts doused in gravy but - with no actual sprouts or gravy used in the recipe - the flavour could not be more different; the zingy lime profiteroles perfectly balance the sweetness of the chocolate and salted caramel sauce.

The dessert's green shell, which is textured to look like a giant version of the festive vegetable, is made with white chocolate turned green by adding spirulina, a natural colouring. The choux pastry profiteroles are filled with a Crème Patissiere flavoured with lime.

Blumenthal is a master of curious food, famous for innovative dishes like the Meat Fruit - a 'mandarin' made with chicken liver parfait - at his restaurant, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal and The Fat Duck's famous Bacon and Egg Ice Cream.

Heston Blumenthal says: 'The dishes that have caused the biggest response from our guests at The Fat Duck are those that look like something they're not.  What can be more fun at Christmas than playing with your guests' minds and taste buds with a dessert that will leave everyone talking?'

Aileen Wood, Waitrose dessert buyer, says: 'Christmas is the perfect time of year to create a fun dessert with lots of theatre for people to enjoy together. We are sure this unique pud will be a talking point, and will give sprout haters a chance to try a new take on the festive veg!'  

Heston has also introduced both a new gin and Panettone for Christmas 2017. The Heston from Waitrose Citrus Sherbert Lazy Gin only needs ice and Mediterranean tonic water to create the perfect G&T.  

Blumenthal has also taken a classic Italian Panettone and given it a 70s makeover with the Heston from Waitrose Black Forest Panettone - the cherry scattered bread is topped with dark chocolate and kirsch-soaked cherries.

ENDS

Information and prices correct at time of release.  Waitrose customer enquiry number is 0800 188 884.