Brownies are traditional American sweets, but they have great success everywhere thanks to the crunchy crust but with a soft heart and intense chocolate flavor. The recipe is very easy and includes few but simple ingredients, such as dark chocolate, butter, eggs, sugar and flour, to which you can add walnuts, hazelnuts or other dried fruit to make this dessert even more delicious.
What makes brownies one of the best recipes of American pastry is versatility: in addition to the cake shape, brownies can be cut into squares and served as snacks. In fact, these sweets were born in Chicago in 1893 thanks to Mrs. Palmer who, on the occasion of the celebrations of the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America, asked her pastry chef to make a dessert as good as a cake but easy to transport like biscuits. And here we have the brownies!
Ingredient list
Step nr: 1 - Preheat the oven
Pre-heat the oven to 180°C, or 160°C fan or 4 Gas.
Step nr: 2 - Line a baking tin
Line a baking tin with non-stick baking parchment.
Step nr: 3 - Melt chocolate and butter
Ingredient list for step nr: 3
Fill the saucepan a third of the way with water. When simmering place a heatproof bowl on top, making sure that the bottom of the bowl is not touching the water. Add butter and dark chocolate to the bowl and melt over a low heat, stirring occasionally with a spatula.
Step nr: 4 - Let chocolate and butter to cool down
When chocolate and butter will be melted together, remove from the heat and leave to cool slightly.
Step nr: 5 - Whisk eggs and sugar
Ingredient list for step nr: 5
In another bowl mix the eggs and sugar together.
Step nr: 6 - Mix all the ingredients
Ingredient list for step nr: 6
Gently fold the melted chocolate into the egg and sugar mixture. Then add the vanilla extract, followed by the flour and salt.
Step nr: 7 - Add walnuts
Ingredient list for step nr: 7
Add walnuts and fold the mixture again.
Step nr: 8 - Bake the brownie batter
Pour the brownie batter into the lined tin. Place in the centre of the oven and bake.
Step nr: 9 - Leave the brownie to cool and serve
Leave the brownie to cool a little in the tin, then let to cool 1 hour in the fridge. You can cut into squares and enjoy!