CHOCOLATE BROWNIE

This Recipe Serves 6-9

A chocolate brownie (or essentially called a brownie) is an American treat or dessert made with chocolate. Its name originated from its dark colored shading. It possesses a flavor like a hybrid of a cake & a biscuit (cookie). It is generally cut into squares or rectangles. It can be eaten as a dessert as is, or with ice cream or whipped cream.

The brownie was produced in the United States towards the end of the 19th century.

Chocolate Brownie Ingredients:

• ½ cup flour
• 2 eggs
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup white granulated sugar
• ¼ cup cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
• 50 grams butter
• ¼ teaspoon baking powder
• chopped nuts of your choice (optional)

For the frosting (icing):

• 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 1 cup confectionery sugar (icing sugar)

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180° Celsius. Grease an oven proof pan or casserole with some butter – preferably with some depth in it.
2. 
3. Place the butter into a medium sized pot or saucepan.
4. 
5. Melt the butter on medium high heat.
6. 
7. Once the butter has melted, remove from heat & switch off the stove.
8. 
9. Add in the sugar.
10. 
11. Mix well.
12. 
13. Thereafter, add in the eggs & stir.
14. 
15. Next, add in the baking powder, followed by the salt & the cocoa powder.
16. 
17. Mix together.
18. 
19. Add in the vanilla essence & combine well forming a batter.
20. 
21. Pour the brownie batter into the greased pan/casserole.
22. 
23. Place the batter filled pan/casserole into the preheated oven & bake for 25 minutes making sure not to overcook it.
24. 
25. Whilst the chocolate brownies are in the oven, you can begin preparing the frosting.
26. Add the butter to a mixing bowl.
27. 
28. Drop in the cocoa powder.
29. 
30. Thereafter add in the vanilla essence.
31. 
32. Then drop in the confectionery sugar (icing sugar).
33. 
34. Mix well until smooth.
35. 
36. After 25 minutes of baking the brownie, remove from the oven.
37. 
38. Whilst the brownie is still hot, spread the frosting over using a spoon.
39. 
40. Notice how the frosting becomes darker in colour & smoother like a sauce texture.
41. 
42. Once the brownies are frosted, you can cut into squares & serve as is or go a step further & chop up some nuts (almonds/pecans/pistachios/macadamias). I used almonds.
43. 
44. 
45. Once nuts are chopped, sprinkle them over the warm frosting.
46. 
47. Cut into squares & serve as is or with ice cream, whipped cream or chocolate sauce.
48.