I have tried other brownie recipes (normally when I get a new recipe book) but nothing matches up to these. They are chewy, gooey with a crispy top, have a really rich chocolate flavour and take hardly any time to make (and hardly any mess too- just a pan to clean- no bowls or anything).
They are based on a recipe from a really old recipe book called “Greatest Ever Cookies” which I got from one of those discount book shops. I can never find it on amazon or anything like that.
I use it as a basis for any brownie recipe- add in anything you fancy.
Ingredients:
100g butter/ Pure spread
175g caster sugar
30g dark brown soft sugar
120g dark chocolate
1 tbs golden syrup
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
100g plain flour
25g cocoa powder
1/2 tsp baking powder
Line a brownie pan with baking paper, and preheat the oven to 180C.
In a medium saucepan melt together the butter, chocolate, sugars and golden syrup. Leave to cool for a few minutes.
Weigh out the flour, cocoa and baking powder so it is ready (I put it in a cup).
Beat in the eggs and the extract (quickly as you do not want the eggs to scramble), then gently fold in the flour mixture.
If you are using any add- ins then add them in now.
Pour into the brownie pan and bake for 20-25 mins- they will have risen a tiny amount and the top will look shiny and a little cracked. They will be soft when you take them out of the oven, but they will firm up as they cool.
Leave them to cool completely before slicing, otherwise they are really hard to cut. Then try not to eat them all at once!
See how gooey they are in the middle- Heaven!
Variations that I have tried:
Double chocolate– add some chocolate chips into the mix/ sprinkle chunks of chocolate over the mix in the pan.
Mint chocolate– swap the vanilla for peppermint extract, and / or add some chopped minty chocolate.
Chocolate cherry– soak some dried cherries in warm water (this plumps them up a bit) before adding to the mixture.
Ginger and orange chocolate– Use orange extract and add some chopped crystallised ginger, and 1/2 tsp ginger/cinnamon.
White chocolate and raspberry– Mix in some white chocolate chips and sprinkle with frozen crushed raspberries.
Chocolate pecan– mix in some chopped pecans.
Coconut chocolate– take out some of the mixture and mix with dessicated coconut, swap the vanilla for coconut extract, then pour the coconut mix on top of the normal mix.
I keep meaning to try out a vegan version with flax eggs instead, but have not had the courage yet. If anyone tries it out, let me know!
Which would be your favourite brownie flavour?
Also I got an email today saying that a shoe designer (Patrick Cox?) has launched a cupcake book, called Cox Cookies and Cake , and they are having a competition to win a signed copy of the book, here. If you fancy it 🙂
PS I would love it if you would “like” me on facebook- there is a link on my home-page now. Cheers 🙂
i want a macadamia nut flavoured brownie!
macadamia trumps every flavour in the BOOK! always! 🙂 x
I so, so want a brownie right now and Orange and Ginger flavoured ones, sound even perfect.
I am loving the chocolate-peppermint combo lately! 🙂 loveee the looks of this recipe! xoxo!
My brownie flavor of choice might be extra chocolate! haha Mint sounds good too though. 😉
Ooh they look perfect squidginess – brownies have to be squidgy! The best brownies I’ve ever had are the double white chocolate and hazelnut ones my mum used to make. I don’t even like white chocolate that much but these were just the best ever. Thank you for the recipe and the competition link 🙂
These look amazing. I’ve never made brownies before but after seeing this recipe I’m defiantly going to give it a go 😀 ! Do you think it would work the same with milk chocolate or is dark best ? 🙂
Oh yes. You have just won me the best wife of the year award I think 😉 Max LOVES brownies & this recipe looks AMAAAAAZING!
I love that you’ve been able to find such a good recipe from an old cookbook! They look amazing and all your variations sound delicious. I think my fave brownie combo would be pretty plain with just walnuts, so good!
Def will try these, I am always on the hunt for a fab brownie recipe! 🙂 x
Oooh yay! I have been waiting patiently for your magical brownie recipe! Thank youuuuu! I think I’d go for a mix of cranberries, pecans and white chocolate. That sounds nice a Christmassy to me!
They look fantastic Maria and I know from experience that they taste even BETTER!!!! I’ve never made brownies but they are my daughter’s favourite so I’m tempted to give that a go with her. Sorry to sound daft but what size is a Brownie tin?
Rosexx
Holy yum! These look gorgeous!
Nothing like a good brownie! I like them a little gooey – I’m definitely not a cake-brownie person. I love to make mini muffin brownies with reese’s cups in them – so delicious 🙂
I’ve not really been very adventurous with brownies – I’ve pretty much only tried the original recipe. The white chocolate and raspberry flavour sounds great – I have a real weakness for white chocolate!
Mmm, I love brownies! My Mum used to make some with dark chocolate, white chocolate & raspberries…those were delicious!
I usually use Love Veggies & Yoga’s brownie recipe, but will give yours a try next time! 🙂
Hope you’re doing ok, haven’t “seen” you around for a couple of days. Not like you to miss WIAW so hope nothing’s wrong xx
Are you ok lovely? xx
Jessica- try with milk chocolate, I prefer dark but I bet any would be fine- just melt gently.
Rose I think my brownie pan is maybe 20cm by 15 or something? It is a rectangle tin, not that big. Does that help ? 🙂