Do you ever have guests suddenly turning up in your house, and yet you have nothing to serve them? Or that you just want to whip up something fast and nice goodies for a potluck because you don't really have the time to do so? Well, for my reason for this quick, crusty brownies is very simple. I need to clear my cocoa powder! Haha!
Being away for 2 months means that I don't really get to bake for that long. And a few days later I came back from my trip, I was supposed to go meet up with my army friends, for most of our birthdays fall in September. Yeah! Happy Birthday to myself. (Okay, it's already about 2 weeks since my birthday, but still.. I need presents!)
And that being said so, I had to attend my brother's birthday celebration with relatives as well, which happened to fall on the same say. So, I just had to pop myself by for 1 or 2 hours, and leave for my brother's birthday celebration. And since they were having a BBQ session, I thought to myself, well, why not take this time, do something up quickly, (and of course, an excuse to use up my cocoa powder).
Being away for 2 months means that I don't really get to bake for that long. And a few days later I came back from my trip, I was supposed to go meet up with my army friends, for most of our birthdays fall in September. Yeah! Happy Birthday to myself. (Okay, it's already about 2 weeks since my birthday, but still.. I need presents!)
And that being said so, I had to attend my brother's birthday celebration with relatives as well, which happened to fall on the same say. So, I just had to pop myself by for 1 or 2 hours, and leave for my brother's birthday celebration. And since they were having a BBQ session, I thought to myself, well, why not take this time, do something up quickly, (and of course, an excuse to use up my cocoa powder).
These brownies are what I call, super quick brownies. They have a lovely crust on the top, because of the high sugar content that these brownies have. Not to worry, these brownies are not overly sweet, because they use cocoa powder, instead of melted chocolates, in some recipes. Loveable on it own, or even, if you feel you want to treat yourself better, have an ice cream on the top would be nice too (or just an excuse to have some ice cream).
The reason why I would say this brownies are quick, is because they are all done in one bowl. No creaming of butter. Or what Mary Berry said, an all-in-one method. And this lovely recipe, is of course, by the wonderful lady, Mary Berry. I just can't get enough of her wonderful recipes. And the Great British Bake-off! I wish there is something like that in Singapore. Not that I am qualified enough to go participate. HA!
Sift your flour and cocoa powder into a large bowl. Always sift cocoa powder. It tend to have a lot of lumps. You won't want to have lumps of cocoa powder in your brownies, do you? Though I use to eat Milo powder as of it own. Guilty as charged!
Measure sugar, and butter on the top of the sugar. A trick that I learn, so as not to make my bowl greasy, as the sugar will slip off, together with the butter as you pour them inside the larger bowl. Save some washing!
Measure sugar, and butter on the top of the sugar. A trick that I learn, so as not to make my bowl greasy, as the sugar will slip off, together with the butter as you pour them inside the larger bowl. Save some washing!
Crack 4 eggs into the same bowl. I told you we could save some washing! And pour them into the large bowl. and ready to beat them up!
The recipe doesn't call for vanilla extract. But I just feel like putting in some. It's optional though. Everything that's with vanilla is nice, right! I guess, so.
And the last ingredient.. Chocolate Chips!! With much much more chocolatey and gooey texture! Lovely.
As everything is being beaten in, folded in, pour into a baking tin, which base is being lined with parchment and greased throughout. And.. BAKE!
Be sure to let them cool down before cutting them to ensure a clean cut! (Don't mind the warm lightings here. I shot this at night. But it still looks great, doesn't it!)
They should be slightly gooey in the middle, with nice crust on the top.
They should be slightly gooey in the middle, with nice crust on the top.
Chocolate Chip Brownies
Recipe adapted from Mary Berry 100 Cakes and Bakes
Ingredients:
275g soften butter
275g caster sugar
4 large eggs
75g cocoa powder
100g self-raising flour
100g plain chocolate chips
Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 180°C/ Fan 160°C/ gas mark 4. Grease a 30 x 23cm traybake or roasting tin, and line the base and sides with baking parchment.
2) Measure all ingredients in a large bowl and beat until evenly blended. Spoon mixture into prepared tin, spreadly the mixture gently into the corners of the tin and level the top.
3) Bake in the pre-heated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until the brownies have crusty top and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Cover loosely with foil for the last 10 minutes if the mixture is browning too much. Leave the brownies to cool in the tin and cut into 24 squares. Store in an airtight container.
Recipe adapted from Mary Berry 100 Cakes and Bakes
Ingredients:
275g soften butter
275g caster sugar
4 large eggs
75g cocoa powder
100g self-raising flour
100g plain chocolate chips
Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 180°C/ Fan 160°C/ gas mark 4. Grease a 30 x 23cm traybake or roasting tin, and line the base and sides with baking parchment.
2) Measure all ingredients in a large bowl and beat until evenly blended. Spoon mixture into prepared tin, spreadly the mixture gently into the corners of the tin and level the top.
3) Bake in the pre-heated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until the brownies have crusty top and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Cover loosely with foil for the last 10 minutes if the mixture is browning too much. Leave the brownies to cool in the tin and cut into 24 squares. Store in an airtight container.