Walnut and Chocolate Chunk Brownies

Today I made Walnut and Milk Chocolate Chunk Brownies

This is one of my newer Brownie recipes and is quickly growing to be one of my favourites. These Brownies are packed full with Walnuts and large Chocolate Chunks. The mixture is a basic enough brownie recipe with a tonne of add-ins. Some people seem to have problems with Brownies, getting the texture right or getting the right consistency of the mixture or using too little or too much add-ins. The Walnuts not only add a great nutty flavour but also a fantastic texture. The slight crunch is a great contrast to the super soft and squishy texture of the brownie. These are best served warm not long out of the oven but can keep in an air tight container for 3-4 days, if they last in the house that long.

I don't use any Cocoa Powder in this recipe, all the gooey Chocolate-y goodness comes from the melted Chocolate. This keeps the recipe nice and light as there is only a small amount of flour involved. Some Brownies have a tendency to be very dense and stodgy or dry and flaky. These Brownies are rich, moist and packed full of Chocolate-y and nutty flavour. Melting the Butter and Chocolate together and beating the Eggs and Sugar together means there's more Liquid ingredients than Dry Ingredients, this allows the Brownies to stay super moist and just melt in your mouth. You can use any type of nut in this recipe: Hazelnuts, Peanuts or Pecans work well in this recipe also.

Ingredients:

(Makes 12)

• 150g Butter
• 2 Eggs
• 100g Plain Flour
• 1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
• 170g Milk Chocolate
• 150g Golden Sugar
• 55g Walnuts

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven 160°C. Lightly Oil a 20" square baking tray.  

2. In a large bowl whisk together the Eggs and the Golden Sugar until light and fluffy. It will start to look airy and will lighten in colour.

3. In another bowl melt the butter and 3/4 of the Chocolate in the microwave. I always use the microwave to melt Chocolate as if you do it on the oven you have to do it oven a pan of boiling water which gives off a lot of steam and during the melting process if any moisture gets into the Chocolate it could ruin the whole batch. 

4. Add the melted Butter and Chocolate into the Eggs and Sugar and mix fully. Then sift the Flour and Baking Powder into the Liquid Ingredients and mix till fully combined. 

5. Chop up the Walnuts and remaining Chocolate and add into the mixture. Stir the add-ins carefully. I normally hold back a small handful of the Walnuts for the top of the mixture.

6. Pour the mixture into your Oiled baking tray and smooth out the top to make sure it's even.  Sprinkle the remaining Walnuts on top of the mixture.

7. Place in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes. You know the Brownies are baked when the top has set and a cake tester or toothpick comes out with few crumbs on it an not liquid. Leave to cool slightly and cut into 12 even pieces. I normally sprinkle some Icing Sugar on mine to finish.

"Forget Love... I'd Rather Fall In Chocolate"