Hey there brownie lovers!
Do you know what’s better than a regular brownie? A chocolate brownie that’s so fudgy and gooey that you’ve got to lick over your teeth multiple times to clean of the excess chocolate! It’s the kind of brownie that makes you want to ditch all your plans and just curl up on the couch with a big ol’ plate of chocolaty goodness.
I’ve made a few brownies over the years, and the current recipe that I’ve stuck with for a while, has a bit of a back story to it.
It all started a few years back – before I become this crazy jack of all trade of course! I was lazing about on the couch, engaged in my absolute favorite activity with my mom – you guessed it, watching children’s cooking show on tv. All of a sudden, my mom had to go and ruin the moment, by saying the most frustrating thing in her most frustrating African mom voice: “look at that little girl baking, is that not your mate. Which mother will not be happy, seeing their child bake a whole cake from scratch on national television”. Boy, was I triggered!
Now, I wasn’t much of a baker back then, but I was always up for a challenge. And I know a challenge when I hear one. Turns out, mom was just craving some cake after seeing that little girl whip out that cake and had to drag me into her mess – but that’s by the way. So, I went to the kitchen and started rummaging through the cabinets and fridge, trying to find ingredients for my masterpiece. I threw in some flour, sugar, eggs, and chocolate chips – basically anything I could find that seemed brownie-worthy.
After mixing everything together in a bowl, I popped it in the oven and waited. And waited. And waited (I should have danced while waiting). But, when the timer finally went off and I pulled out the tray, I was greeted with a lumpy, gooey mess. My brownie was nothing compared to what that girl made on tv. Let’s not even talk about the disappointment on my mom’s face!
But, despite my failed attempt, I was determined to master the art of brownie-making – cause mommy didn’t raise no quitter! So, every chance I got, I would sneak into the kitchen and whip up a batch of brownies. I tried all sorts of crazy flavor combinations, like peanut butter and marshmallow brownies (don’t knock it till you try it).
Eventually, after many, many batches of brownies, I finally hit my stride. I found the perfect balance of chewiness and gooeyness, with just the right amount of chocolatey goodness. And, as I took a bite of my masterpiece, I realized that making brownies had become one of my favorite things to do.
Baking is all about having fun and letting your inner baker shine. So go ahead, indulge in that chocolate brownie, because life is too short to settle for plain old cake. Let your taste buds do a happy dance and enjoy every decadent bite as you try to make this brownie as well. The recipe is simple and easy, but oh so good!
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of butter (or your favorite vegan butter substitute)
- 2 cups of sugar (white or brown, your choice)
- 4 eggs (or equivalent egg substitute for a vegan recipe)
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 1 1/2 cups of flour (all-purpose or gluten-free flour blend)
- 1 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
- 1 cup of your favorite chocolate chips (milk, dark, white, or a mix)
Instructions:
- Start by preheating your oven to 180°C (350°F) and line a 18x 26 cm (9×13 inch if you are across the Atlantic) baking dish with parchment paper. Now begin by getting out all your ingredients. This is just so you don’t end up being stressed if you’re missing something.
- Grab a mixing bowl and a whisk (or a spoon, or even just your ladle if you’re feeling adventurous). Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
- Crack in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
- Stir in the vanilla extract and salt.
- In a separate bowl, combine your dry ingredients and mix them together with a carefree attitude – it’s all going to taste amazing in the end!
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until your mixture is smooth and glossy.
- Fold in the chocolate chips.
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and smooth out the top. Don’t worry if this not entirely perfect – this will add to the charm of your brownies!
- Pop the batter in the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean (remember, you want a fudgy, not dry, brownie) While you’re waiting for it to bake, dance around the kitchen to your favorite song and enjoy the sweet aroma of chocolate wafting through the air.
- After 15 minutes (or whenever your nose tells you they’re done), take your brownies out of the oven and let them cool for a few minutes. Don’t worry if they’re not perfectly cut or the edges are a little crispy – that’s just part of their quirky charm! I like my brownies extra fudgy – hence why I take them out a bit earlier, than suggested.
Let the brownies cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving.
Optional: you can top the brownies with ice cream, whipped cream, or your favorite chocolate sauce for extra indulgence! I like mine
with cream cheese and Nutella topping (don’t judge me please)!
Now, grab a fork, take a bite, and savor the deliciousness of your carefree and scrumptious homemade brownies – and don’t forget to share with your friends and family (or keep them all to yourself, I won’t judge either)!
Remember, baking is all about having fun and experimenting, so don’t be afraid to mix it up and try new things next time.
