Chocolate brownies are always a hot topic of discussion among foodies. Which makes a better brownie? Melted chocolate or cocoa? Are fudgy brownies better than cakey ones? All very good questions, but impossible to answer. Brownies are, I think, the most individual of cakes and desserts.
These chocolate brownies are cocoa based, nigh on perfect, and amazingly quick to make. They took me right back to the days when I made a huge pan of brownies on a weekly basis for my friends at university! Brownie classification is rather arcane, so I can only say that the brownies around the edge of the tin were slightly cakey, but in the middle of the tin they were fudgy and delicious. This suits our household very well; Dave likes the firmer cakey outsides, and I love the fudgy goodness of the middle. The top of the brownies baked to a delicious crackly crust that shimmers and crunches slightly as the knife slides into the pan.
Simple Chocolate Brownies
Source: Country Fair Cookbook
Makes 15.
3/4 cup butter (I used half-fat butter and it worked perfectly)
1 1/2 cup sugar (granulated is fine)
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp chocolate extract (optional)
3/4 cup sifted flour
1/2 cup cocoa
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
Preheat oven to 180C/Gas Mark 4. Grease a 9" square tin.
Cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well.
Sift together flour, cocoa and salt. Add to creamed mixture, blending well. Stir in walnuts if using. Spread evenly in tin.
Bake for 35 minutes or until done--a wooden toothpick or skewer inserted in the middle should come out almost clean, with just a couple of crumbs clinging to it. Cool in tin on rack. Cut 2 3/4 x 1 3/4 inch bars when cold.
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Comments
Great recipe. Can add chocolate chips instead of nuts.
Great to find an easy recipe of brownies that doesnt use chocolate bars.
1. Posted by Luke on May 4, 2007
Wow, I really like that recipe, especially the fudgy and delicious center part. I must make some.
2. Posted by Terry Roberts on May 5, 2007
Love the recipe.
Any chance of anyone converting it into metric so us limeys can make it too? I have no idea how much a cup is!
3. Posted by Julia on June 26, 2007
I tried these brownies and they really are good. I have also tried adding chopped chocolate into it as well to give a very fudgey/chocolately soft centre. The recipe works well both ways.
4. Posted by suzannah on August 17, 2007
Great recipe and if anyone needs to know 1 cup is equal to 8 ounces
5. Posted by Jane on August 31, 2007
love the recipe, looked like a sponge cake at first tasted amazing kids love it!
6. Posted by vicki on September 24, 2007
Hi...Great post. I love brownies too. For those who like cinnamon, you can add a tsp of ground cinnamon while sifting the flour. Also, I've tried a mocha variant to this. Steep a tbsp of coffee granules in a tbsp of hot water; allow the flavour to mature; and then beat it in after the eggs.
You have a wonderful blog. Do stop by mine someday . I'm at
http://passionateaboutbaking.blogspot.com/
Ciao
7. Posted by Passionate Baker on September 28, 2007
Havent tried it yet! I am going to make some today! Hope they taste good!
8. Posted by Preteen Baker on January 12, 2008
Fantastic recipe! I'm so glad I stumbled across your blog.
9. Posted by Lesley on January 23, 2008
I made these brownies last night, and I must say that I'm astonished at how successful they were considering that they don't contain actual chocolate!
Someone requested gram measurements... Well, I did the cups conversions before cooking, so here are the metric equivalents for ingredients in cups:
170g butter
340g sugar
90g flour
55g cocoa
If you're feeling particularly generous towards Britons, maybe you could add those in parentheses after the American measures?
These brownies are best enjoyed without any icing (frosting), but if you particularly dislike your teeth, just mix 3 tablespoons sifted cocoa and 25g (about 1 ¾ tablespoons) butter in a cup, stir in 4 tablespoons very hot water until you have a smooth paste, and add sifted icing sugar until it thickens. The result is very sweet, but chocolatey enough to be enjoyable.
10. Posted by Jordan on February 9, 2008
Omg these brownies are amazing! I'm extremely glad i've found this recipe, because all the other recipes i tried went very wrong and these were perfect!
11. Posted by Demi Murray on February 9, 2008
Just made them, they're good.
12. Posted by www.chocolatedelights.110mb.com on February 11, 2008
Im only 16 but i bake so much and the recipes i use are usually very complicaated...I was so amazed when i found how fantastically simple this recipe was! the outside has a very delicate crisp to it and the centre was so moist and fudgily doughy!!!lol A definate must have.
I melted a little chocolate cake covering in the mixture and the taste was so rich...LoVe It!!!
13. Posted by dreamingshadows on February 17, 2008
really nice... i want to make them every day til i die!
14. Posted by Sulley Muntari on February 18, 2008
you should take out the ealnuts and put some chocolate chips and make it even chocolately and that would be even perfect.and would i know if it wont sink??????
15. Posted by shanketa on March 6, 2008
one word, YUM.
16. Posted by muzzii on April 28, 2008
WOW, thanks so much!! These are incredible!
17. Posted by Johanna on May 8, 2008
i just put in oven now. looks VERY nice!
18. Posted by Gabes on June 8, 2008
these were really easy to make even my boyfriend could make them .
19. Posted by haylie on June 9, 2008
They are devine ....
Just melt in the mouth ,,,,
Yummy =D
20. Posted by milley on July 3, 2008