For me, the ultimate Chocolate Brownies are crisp on the outside, squidgy on the inside and have a nutty crunch - in this case walnuts. Add to that, quick and easy to make. Well, what's stopping you?
Sometimes only chocolate will hit the spot. I've made these Chocolate Brownies for many different occasions - birthday teas, family lunches, even a funeral, once. And sometimes I make them just because I want chocolate.
This brownie recipe uses walnuts but you can use pecans, which I often do. That's partly because walnuts can have a bitter taste but, in a recipe like this, they are perfectly fine.
Secrets of success with Brownies
Brownies are quite easy to make, although they have a reputation for being difficult, so pay attention to ingredients and cooking time to ensure a successful outcome:
Good quality ingredients
70% plain chocolate. Why isn't ordinary dark chocolate good enough? Because it typically is under 40% cocoa solids. When you put it with the other ingredients, it just isn't chocolatey enough. But it doesn't need to be desperately expensive. A good supermarket version is good.
Butter. This is not a recipe for margarine. If you aren't going to use butter in this recipe, I'd rather you made something else. Having said that, any butter should be fine. I don't get fussy about unsalted. Salt is a good thing (in its place).
Nuts. Use walnuts or pecans as you prefer. They are going to be chopped so buying broken nuts is fine - not too small though.
Vanilla Extract. Not essence which may be synthetic, you need extract. If all you have is essence, use twice as much (and buy extract next time - it's made from vanilla pods. The real deal.)
MELTING THE CHOCOLATE
I wrote a whole post about How to Melt Chocolate so if you want a step-by-step guide, take a look. Using a pan of hot water is the safest method. The microwave is quicker, but if you’re too impatient you will crystallise the chocolate and have to start again!
Cooking Time
The other crucial point is not to overcook the brownies. Keep in mind that they keep cooking in the tin once they're out of the oven. About 20 minutes is right but do look at them after 15 minutes in case your oven runs hot. When they're done the top will be a pale brown speckle and the centre will be soft.
Leave in the tin until cool or they will squidge all over the place!
What equipment do you need?
- 20cm x 20cm traybake tin - This is the smallest of the three sizes of traybake tin I use most often. It makes enough so you don't feel gorged on cake
- Magic liner - I have this cut to fit all the traybake tins I use most. You wash it every time. Nothing sticks and it doesn't need greasing
- Baking parchment squares - Use these if you don't have a liner to fit the tin. They are great for all square baking tins - 20cm or 23cm.
If you like this...
...Why don't you try:
Mocha Squares
Easy Chocolate Fudge Cake
Chocolate Tiffin
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The Ultimate Chocolate Brownies
Ingredients
- 200 g good-quality plain chocolate
- 200 g butter
- 3 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (10ml)
- 250 g caster sugar
- 100 g plain/all-purpose flour
- 25 g cocoa powder
- 150 g chopped walnuts
Instructions
PREPARATION:
- Boil the kettle
- Preheat the oven to 180°C/ 160°C fan/ gas mark 4/ 350°F
- Line the base of the tin with your liner
- Sift together the flour and cocoa powder
For the Chocolate Brownies:
- Break the chocolate into pieces and put in a bowl with the butter
- Melt the chocolate and butter over a small pan of waterFor step-by-step instructions see How to Melt Chocolate
- Whisk the eggs with the caster sugar and vanilla extract until thick and pale
- When the chocolate and butter have melted, let them cool slightly and stir into the egg and sugar mixtureAlways add warm ingredients to cooler ones for a smooth mixture
- Add the nuts, flour and cocoa and mix in thoroughly
- Pour into the tin and cook for about 20 minutes. When they're done the top will be a pale brown speckle and the inside will still be softThe brownies will continue to cook in the tin when they're out of the oven
- Leave in the tin until cool
- Cut into squares - they are very rich, so don't be too generous with the size.
Gary Sparra says
I love using this recipe. However i was wondering. Do you have to use dark chocolate? could i use milk chocolote instead ?
Susie Collings says
Hi Gary, I wonder if milk chocolate would be too sweet? To a certain extent it depends on the chocolate. Look at the cocoa solids. Cadbury's is 20% - far too sweet, but you can find 30% or even 45%. Another option is to try 50/50 milk and dark, which I often do for traybake toppings.
Lisa says
Hi susie
Can you give me a recipe for a larger tin please, I have to make 60 for a party in December and your recipe is the only one that works for me…thank you x
Susie Collings says
Hi Lisa, I'm glad you like the recipe. I'm a bit loath to suggest a tin three times the size because the outside of the cake will probably be too dry by the time the middle is cooked. I'd either suggest using a 20x30cm (8x12inch) tin and cook 2 cakes that are 1.5 times the size, e.g. use 300g chocolate in each
OR cook 3 batches in the original tin
After each batch has cooled in the tin, store it whole in an airtight plastic box in the fridge for 1-2 days and cut up just before serving.
Have a great party 🙂
Lisa says
Thank you so much I will try this….my husband can’t get enough of them xx
Susie Collings says
🙂
sharon says
Hi
Can you freeze these, my favs.
Susie Collings says
Hi Sharon, Yes you can freeze them. Or keep in the fridge if you want them to keep longer.
Valerie Bolton says
Hi Susie, can I use dark cooking chocolate for this recipe. Excited to try it. Thank you.
Susie Collings says
Hi Valerie, As long as it's real chocolate the recipe will work. For best results I prefer chocolate with at least 70% cocoa solids. Cheers - Susie
Tracy says
Hi Susie
Can I swap the walnuts for chocolate chips?
Susie Collings says
Hi Tracy. I haven't tried it but it should be good. I might try this myself with white chocolate chips.
Tom says
My mum made these brownies for me when she visited recently. Delicious! She sent me the link so I can make them for myself. Thank you for the recipe!
Susie Collings says
Tom, You're welcome. What a nice mum you have 🙂
Hatty West says
Hi Susie!
Wondering what you might suggest as an alternative to the walnuts? Family with but allergies and the recipe looks lovely, but just want to know if you have something else that might suit?
Susie says
Hi Hatty,
I have an allergic family member too. If he lived in this country I wouldn't even have walnuts in the house! So for many years I used pecans in any recipe calling for walnuts. They are related so you will need to be sure the allergy is specifically to walnuts (as it is in our case).
Otherwise you could leave the nuts out entirely, again I often do in this recipe.
Cheers - Susie