This recipe was first posted in 2009, this is a repost with better (?) photo and improved recipe.
The 2009 version.
I made a batch of brownies last weekend to participate in the Bake Along hosted by Joyce from Kitchen Flavours, Lena from Frozen Wings and Zoe from Bake for Happy Kids, and realised that I've actually posted about this recipe before back in 2009 (and it's already 2012 now!)
It's cliché to start off by saying, "how time flies"... but I still have to say... time really flies! I started this blog in 2008, when I was still a learning baker with a 3-Megapixels digital camera. Fast forward to 2012, I am now still a learning baker, but now armed with a DSLR and a trusty tripod, a birthday present from X. (: I know my food photography skills still have a long way to go - but I think the quality of the photos are slightly better than before... right??
Well, I digress - so back to these brownies. This brownies recipe is adapted from 500 Chocolate Delights by Lauren Floodgate. The 2009 version contained walnuts and white chocolate, while the 2012 version is just plain old good brownies. I halved the recipe as I'm only baking for X and my family, however, I used the wrong tin, resulting in the brownies to be a bit too flat. Nevertheless, it's still a pretty rich and tasty brownie, but it lacked the ooomph that I was looking for, so I'm still in search for a better brownies recipe... anyone has one? 😀
Chocolate Brownies (serves 8 - 10)
adapted from 500 Chocolate Delights by Lauren Floodgate
You'll need:
120 grams dark chocolate, minimum 70% cocoa content
60 grams unsalted butter
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
100 grams caster sugar
55 grams plain flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
60 grams pecans/walnuts, toasted and chopped (optional)60 grams white chocolate, roughly chopped (optional)
Preheat the oven to 190 degrees Celsius. Grease a 20-cm (8-inch) square cake tin. Line the bottom of the greased cake tin with baking parchment and leave an overhang on two sides (for easy removal of the brownies later).
Place the chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl. Set it over a pan of simmering water (do not let the water touch the bottom of the bowl). Stir the mixture occasionally using a wooden spoon or a whisk, until all the chocolate and butter has melted. Remove the heatproof bowl from heat and set it aside for 5 minutes.
Use a wooden spoon or a whisk, beat in one egg into the chocolate-butter mixture, until it has been fully incorporated. Beat in the second egg until it has been fully incorporated. Beat in the vanilla extract and caster sugar until fully blended into the chocolate-butter mixture.
Sift the plain flour and baking powder into the chocolate-butter mixture and mix gently. Add in the pecans/walnuts and white chocolate if using and mix gently.
Pour the batter into the prepared tin and bake for 25 - 30 minutes until the top is dry and the centre is just firm to the touch. The top may crack a little. The skewer-inserted-into-the-centre-of-the-cake test will not be accurate, so it's all about judgement. Place the tin on a wire rack to let it cool completely.
To serve, run a hot knife along the edge of the brownies and use the overhang of the baking parchment to lift the brownies out. Cut the brownies into 8 to 10 servings. Place the brownie on a serving plate. Dust with icing sugar and place a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. Serve with chocolate sauce.
2009 version
Happy baking!
Sara says
Wow what a great recipe. I will be sure to try this next time I bake.
Below is a really nice simple brownie recipe which is good for cooking with kids.
http://www.wascene.com/food-drink/perfect-chocolate-brownie-recipe/
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Sara
Thank you, I hope you like it too! Going over now to check out the recipe (:
Cheers!
Jasline
kitchen flavours says
Hi Jasline, Thank you for sharing your brownie with us! It sure looks good, I would go with coffee for this! Hope to see you in our next Bake-Along! Have a lovely day!
bakingaddict says
Love brownies and these look amazing. Really moist and fudgy... I can just imagine the taste! Thanks for sharing 🙂 I think it's nice to look back at what you've done in the beginning and compare with where you are now.
Jasline says
Bobbi / Bam's Kitchen: Thank you Bobbi, I still think I have a lot of aspects to improve upon! Yea I was like you too, trying to take photos and cook at the same time. Getting the tripod makes the whole process faster and easier! (:
Lena: Thanks! I wish they were thicker though... I'll go and dig up the 5-minute chocolate cake recipe and try it soon! Thanks for hosting the Bake-Along! (:
Alice: Thank you Alice! Hee that's why I try not to read food blogs at night.. I'll get very hungry! :p
Zoe: Thank you! Thanks for hosting the Bake Along too! Hope I'll be able to join the next one too!
Zoe says
Hi Jasline,
Glad that you can join us in this brownie bake-along. Sometimes, I think that it is nice to re-visit the recipes that we have cooked or baked. I remember go through my first few blog posts recently and was thinking... "Did I bake this?" LOL
I think it is always good to have a classic and fail-proof brownies recipe always in my mind and I think your brownies recipe is a great "keeper".
Alice says
hi Jasline,
your brownies is making me drool now, and its past midnight! 🙂
nice pics u did..long live DSLR
LOL
lena says
hi jasline, now i can see the difference in using a dslr versus a digital camera..such dramatic improvement and your photography skills are superb. Though the one that you re making now looks a bit thin but who cares..they sound yummy to me..very nice!.btw, i just read above abt the 5 minutes chocolate cake..you must make that and show us!
Bam's Kitchen says
I have not really done an analysis of your photography skills from 4 years ago but as of today they are super. So you have a tripod? Great idea! Currently I have my little cannon camera that most generally has some type of food, or flour all over it. I can usually be spotted taking pictures with one hand while cooking with the other. Yummy chocolate brownies!
Jasline says
I'll try the 5 minutes chocolate cake next time and let you see! Haha maybe you'll be tempted to make one too! =)
cow says
yes! late night snacks sound very good right now, since its 2.30am and looking at the brownies again make me sad
Jasline says
Haha I didn't post these at night! It's because you are always visiting this site late at night! It's your fault! Haha. Maybe I should have an entry on easy late night snacks for people like you! :p
cow says
STOP POSTING THESE ENTRIES AT NIGHT! making people extra hungry and sad that i dont get to eat anything ):