Redemption Brownies!!

I guess everyone would be thinking, what do I mean by the name ‘Redemption Brownies‘? Haha, for no confusing reason I suppose. Just that whenever people see a batch of fresh baked brownies, or anything chocolaty for that matter, their main exclamation would be ‘Aiyoh! So sinful!’

So I decided to go with the opposite direction on the name. First, chocolate has been scientifically proven to help release endorphins…the happy chemical in the brain. Good thing. Dark chocolate is said to help fight heart diseases. A great thing. ‘But it’ll all go down to the thighs!!‘ You might argue. Well, it’s all about portion control then isn’t it? If you choose to chug down the entire batch…don’t complain about the extra pounds that comes with it. I don’t know bout you guys, but eating these brownies gave me pleasure of some sort. How can it be sinful? Sure, brownies don’t solve all the problems in the world but they’re definitely more obvious than certain complicated predicaments. 🙂

Actually, this recipe was adapted from Jamie Oliver’s much alliterated brownies. Recommended by a friend during a home gathering. At that time I was searching for a good brownie recipe because the ones I’ve baked before just didn’t hit the mark.

In the original recipe, it calls for 70% chocolate but I find that was a bit too rich for me. Using chocolates 55% and above would suffice although I think if you use lesser percentage, you need to lessen the amount of sugar too. But if you really like it chocolate to the max, go ahead and use 70%. Baking brownies can be a tricky thing because unlike cakes, you want the centre to be still wet so the method of testing it with a skewer won’t be accurate.

Mr. Oliver himself has a perfect tip. He said to underbake your brownies in the oven…which means when you see your brownies having a hard outer layer on top but still jiggly in the middle, take it out of the oven and let the residual heat do the rest of the baking.

Once the brownies have cooled down, you should have a perfect, gooey, soft centre with a nice soft crust outside. I followed this tip and my brownies came out perfect….this time. Prior to knowing this little info, I’ve always baked my brownies all the way in the oven and when it has cooled down, it was rather hard…not to mention the sides are always overcooked.

Note that this aren’t those brownies you pick up with your hands and eat. They’re more the, put on a plate and eat with ice cream kind of brownies. And because they’re so rich and decadent…you don’t need extra chocolate sauce…unless you’re feeling really indulgent. 🙂

REDEMPTION BROWNIES RECIPE
Adapted from Jamie Oliver’s Bloomin Brilliant Brownies

Ingredients;

Wet;
250 gms unsalted butter, melted with chocolate
200 gms dark chocolate (55% and above)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 large eggs

Dry;
80 gms cocoa powder
65 gms flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
300 gms castor sugar
A pinch of salt
Crushed walnuts

Steps;

1. Pre-heat your oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Line your baking tray, about 20 – 25cm long with 2 inches depth, with baking paper, brush with melted butter or cover with non-stick baking spray.
2. Crush chocolate to bits and put in a heat-proof bowl. Add butter to chocolate. Put bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Stir till everything has melted together. Add vanilla extract.
3. Mix all dry ingredients together except for walnuts. Bring the melted chocolate to the dry mixture and incorporate together gently with a spatula.
4. Use a hand-held whisk and whisk in the eggs one by one, making sure each egg is properly mixed in before adding the next one. Make sure that the batter does not look granular because of the sugar but care not to overmix.
5. Fold in walnuts at the end with a spatula. Pour brownie batter into tray. ‘Drop’ it to get rid of bubbles and level the batter.
6. Bake in oven for about 25 – 30 mins or when the top looks slightly harden but still jiggly in the middle. Don’t let it bake all the way.
7. Take it out of the oven and cool on rack. Cut and eat plain, with ice cream or crème fraiche. Eat warm or cold.

Enjoy…..and watch your worries melt away….NOT…but at least indulge in some awesome chocolatiness!