Ingredients and Recipes for Chocolate Brownies

Make them fudge-like or cake-like… with cocoa or gooey melted chocolate… baked until the crust is scrumptiously crackly on top… chocolate brownies are one of the most sinfully heavenly comfort foods one can have. Apart from the chocolate and of course the butter and flour, that make up the ingredients for chocolate brownies, the next best thing about them is the crunchy bits of nuts, usually walnuts, which just adds to the overall experience of gustatory bliss with each irresistible mouthful.

Chocolate brownies can be had all by themselves – to get the full chocolaty taste – or served with ice-cream or even whipped cream. Or you could sip a steaming hot cup of black coffee between each bite dusted with icing sugar. So, here are some easy-to-make recipes for chocolate brownies.

Classic Chocolate Brownies

¾ cup flour, sifted
¾ cup butter
2 eggs
½ cup cocoa
½ tsp chocolate extract
¾ cup walnuts, chopped
1½ cup granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla
¼ tsp salt

Begin by preheating the oven to 180 degrees C or Gas Mark 4. Then, grease a 9-inch sized baking dish. In a bowl, cream the sugar and butter, until the mixture becomes fluffy and light. Then add the vanilla and eggs, and beat it well. In another dish, sift the cocoa, flour, and salt together, and add this to the beaten mixture, blending them all well. Add the walnuts and chocolate extract in and mix well. Spoon this mixture into the greased dish and spread it out evenly. Bake this for about 35 minutes. Test if it is done by inserting a knife or skewer into it, which should come out practically clean. Cool on a rack, and then cut into squares.

Dark Temptation Chocolate Brownies

100 gm plain flour
2 tbsp cocoa powder
125 gm dark chocolate
175 gm caster sugar
6 tbsp dark muscavado sugar
1 tbsp golden syrup
100 gm butter, unsalted
2 eggs
100 gm chopped nuts (pecans and brazil nuts)
1 tsp chocolate essence
½ tsp baking powder
6 glacéd cherries, chopped

Begin by greasing an 8-inch baking tin. Put the syrup, dark chocolate, sugar, and butter in a saucepan and put it on moderate heat, allowing the mixture to become smooth and well blended. Then, take it off the heat and allow it to cool. Next, beat the flavorings and eggs together and add to the cooled mixture, whisking well. Next, sieve in the cocoa powder and flour, folding it well into the mixture with the help of a spoon. Then add the chopped nuts and blend well. Spoon this mixture into the baking tin and bake at 180 degrees C for about 25 minutes. The inside will be quite fudgy and soft. Allow the baking tin to cool, and then cut into squares. You could top each chocolate brownie square with melted chocolate for an added chocolaty zing and garnish with the glacéd cherries.

Chocolate Chip Brownies

1½ cups flour
3 cups dark chocolate chips, semi-sweet
1 cup white chocolate chips
4 eggs
1½ cups sugar
½ cup butter
1 tsp baking soda
1 tbsp vanilla
¼ cup hot water

Put two cups of chocolate chips and butter in a saucepan, place it on moderate heat, and let them melt, and then put this in a large sized bowl. Add the sugar in and beat until it becomes smooth. Next, using a mixer, add the vanilla and the water. Next, add the eggs, beating constantly. Mix the flour and the baking soda in another bowl, and add it to the mixture, blending with the mixer on low speed. Fold in the rest of the dark chocolate chips and white chocolate chips, and spoon this mixture into a greased baking tin, ad bake for 35-45 minutes at 325 degrees F. Then allow the cake to cool and cut into squares.