Thursday 26 August 2010

Yum, yum! Brownies, anyone?

Mmmm....

While I was on holiday, I came across this recipe for chocolate brownies, which was supposed to be very quick, easy and tasty. 

So, of course, I had to try it out!

* * *

Quick Chocolate Brownies

230g Dark Chocolate - 140g broken up and smashed into chunks
125g butter
250g sugar
1tsp vanilla essence
90g plain flour
2 eggs, at room temperature
pinch salt (if using unsalted butter)

20cm/8" square tin, lined

Melt the butter and 90g chocolate (the bit you didn't smash up!) in a bowl over hot water, or in a microwave (heat for 10-15 seconds, then stir, repeat until chocolate is melting, then stir until it has completely melted. This avoids burning the chocolate by over-heating).

In a separate bowl, mix the eggs, sugar, flour and salt (if using). 

Blend this with the melted chocolate mixture, to a smooth batter. 

Add the chocolate chunks and stir well.

Pour into the prepared tin and bake at 180 degrees C for 10-12 mins, until a skewer or sharp knife comes out clean. 

Cool completely, then remove from tin and cut into pieces.

* * *

The Verdict

The cakes seemed to take much longer to cook, than the 10-12 mins in the recipe.  This may have been the fault of my oven, which I suspect is not very good any more (other things have taken too long before, though they were big things).  It may also have been because I used chilled eggs... who knows? 

Anyway, once the brownies were obviously cooked, I left them in the tin on a rack, to cool down completely.

Even when cold, if you look at the photo above, you'll see that the chocolate was all runny.  They were really more like chocolate puddings, than chocolate brownies.  We did sample two, but ate them from a bowl, with custard!!

They tasted like brownies - in fact, they were really yummy - but we wanted Real Brownies, with that nice texture they have...

So, I put the whole tin into the fridge for an hour or two. 

Then I took them out and removed the paper:

They had the right sort of texture once chilled...
They had that lovely crackly top, like Real Brownies...

They looked and tasted just like Chocolate Brownies.
 
We tried a couple today, after storing them in a plastic box at room temperature.  They still taste like proper Chocolate Brownies, so I reckon they're okay!

I'm not sure why they took so long to cook - about 18-20 mins in the end - but if you try this recipe (and I really think you should!!), do follow the recipe time for your skewer test and only leave them longer if they're obviously not cooked yet.  However, I am pleased that, despite the minor hiccups and the necessary chilling time, these have come out wonderfully and taste great.

Definitely worth a try - the mixture was so quick to make and it was fun too!  I think I'll add some chopped walnuts (or similar) next time - I like brownies with nuts in.

Now then, where's the coffee, I need another Brownie!



10 comments:

  1. I've never had much success with brownies....so maybe I should give this recipe a try....they certainly look good.

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  2. They seem to be fairly idiot-proof, if my experience was anything to go on!

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  3. Look good and can almost smell them from here...yum...thanks for the tip on the photos and looking at them again you are right it does look better with that one as the main photo...Kirsti xxx

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  4. I have found that with brownies a few times - they always need a bit longer. I'm trying the recipe from Jo's blog today .. the chocolate cake from Nigella. I made your pie by the way, I posted on the blog but I think it may have been while you were on holidays - it was an absolute hit! Very calorie dense however so we will save it for special occasions in the future!

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  5. I have to admit that I'm a boxed brownie girl.
    Rinda

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  6. I'll look for the pie post, Amy and good luck with the Nigella cake! I'm full of admiration that you are still baking, in the midst of the extension-building chaos!

    Rinda, how can you buy boxed brownies (which are so expensive and sooo processed) when you can make these so quickly? Maybe you don't enjoy baking much... still, Clara might fancy a go!

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  7. Yes please, yes please! But no nuts for me, please...

    Or, OK, I guess I could make my own batch rather than trying to blag one of yours! ;-) Bookmarking this recipe right now, thank you xx

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  8. These look wonderful Lizzie, I daren't make them though since 3 of the 4 in our family are pretty sugar sensitive (and there would be no restraint, ha ha). Oh well, maybe I will try just one batch .... Thanks for sharing the recipe and how you tweaked it!

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  9. mmmh these look really nice. We have nearly an identical recipe at home except to make it more chocolatey we add cocoa with the flour! If its anything like our recipe I normally keep them in the oven for about 20-25 mins! Will be trying this one out though! like the idea of chocolate brownie puddings!!! xxxx

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  10. Mmm they look good. We'll have to give them a try. We make ours from a recipe in Joy of Cooking called Brownies Cockaigne. More cake like than the dense ones you get from a box. Though I love the dense ones from a box too

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