Gooey Chocolate Brownies

Today I made Chocolate Brownies

Whether you've had a tough day in work or you need a little pick me up after a long day of pretending to study in the library, nothing makes you feel all warm inside like a gooey chocolate brownie. Brownies are one of the most soothing members of the cake world. Just think of all the therapy bills you'd save if you learn how to bake brownies. Homemade brownies can be made with cocoa powder or melted solid chocolate. If you use cocoa powder you will need more fat in the batter as the cocoa powder does not contain the cocoa butter that solid chocolate does. I've made brownies both ways but I prefer making them with cocoa powder

The brownies I made today are rich, dark and moist and will leave you screaming for a glass of milk. They'll stick to the roof of your mouth and fill you with an urge for another square.... and then another. This recipe is really easy to make and it's all made in one bowl so it saves on the wash up which is always a bonus. A lot of recipes I've tried before made very flat and thin brownies , you'd feel the need to stack a few of them together to feel like you're actually eating something so I came up with my own. All the ingredients for this recipe I got in Ardkeen Quality Food Store, they have an amazing Baking Section in store with an extensive selection of flour, sugar and other baking goods - including Irish, gluten free and alternative products including Coconut Flour. In this recipe I use my all-time favourite Callebaut White Chocolate Chips.

Ingredients:

(Makes 12 Large)

• 150g Unsalted Butter
• 150g Sugar
• 100g Cocoa Powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 2 Large Eggs, cold
• 100g All Purpose Flour
• 50g White Chocolate Chips

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 160°C and line a 8x8 inch baking tin with parchment paper, leave it over hang slightly so it easier to remove from the tin. 

2. Put the Butter, Sugar and Cocoa Powder in a Microwave friendly bowl. Heat in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time until the butter is completely melted. The mixture will look a little gritty, but rest assured that's how it's suppose to look.

3. Stir in the Vanilla Extract. Add in the eggs one at a time and mix thoroughly after each addition. The mixture will be thick and look shiny.

4. When the eggs are added you can start to whisk in the flour, mix till all the flour is incorporated but make sure not to over-mix as this will leave you with a heavy, tough brownies.

 

5. Pour half the mixture into the pan then sprinkle half the white chocolate chips on top then pour the remainder of the mixture on top and then finish with the remainder of the white chocolate chips.

6. Bake for 25 minutes, I normally set an alarm as when it comes to baking, timing is vital. Insert a toothpick into the center, if it comes out with just a few crumbs on it then it is done, if it comes out with the liquid mixture on it then it is not done and you can cook it for a further 2-3 minutes. Do not bake for over 30 minutes as this will dry your brownies out.

7. Allow the brownies to cool completely before you cut them into squares. This may be the most difficult part of the whole process. I normally put them into the fridge to speed up the cooling process as I have no patience. 

"Love At First Bite"