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Perfect chocolate brownie recipe?

30 replies

LollyLondon · 13/02/2015 10:13

I have never quite achieved perfect "thin crust, squidgy middle" brownie.

Does anyone have a fantastic recipe please?

Thank you!

OP posts:
LabradorMama · 13/02/2015 10:30

There is a fab one in Nigella's 'How To Be A Domestic Goddess' book. I find it needs baking for a little longer than she recommends but it really is delicious and has the perfect crust/squidgy middle that brownie dreams are made of Smile

mychildrenarebarmy · 13/02/2015 10:35

What do your brownies usually turn out like, and how do you store them?

Gibbsbasement · 13/02/2015 10:37

Nigella's Flourless Brownies.

No flour, uses ground almonds instead. Moist and squidgy with a cracked top.

MrsHathaway · 13/02/2015 10:41

You could have a look here for something even better than brownies.

It lists the Hummingbird Classic recipe, which I reproduce below.

You're probably just overcooking yours. With this recipe the timing is pretty faithful, and you take it out when it's completely matt on top, and gloriously cracked round the edges.

Ingredients
200g dark chocolate, roughly chopped
175g unsalted butter or baking spread
325g caster sugar
130g plain flour
3 eggs

Preheat the oven to 170C/325F/Gas 3.

Melt together the chocolate and butter using a bain marie or microwave.

Add the sugar and stir really well until incorporated, then add the flour and then stir really well.

Add the eggs and mix until thick and smooth, then pour the mixture into an 8? round springform tin (preferably lined with silicon paper).

Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until it starts to crack and flake on top. Leave to cool and set.

MrsHathaway · 13/02/2015 10:42

Oh and you can add 100g of roughly chopped chocolate folded in just before you bake. I use half and half milk and white.

HermioneDanger · 13/02/2015 10:46

Agree with MrsHathaway - the hummingbird recipe always goes down a treat.

LollyLondon · 13/02/2015 10:52

Wonderful, thanks!

Mine usually turn out a bit spongey, probably overdone. They usually don't last long enough to store, but usually in a cake tin!

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mychildrenarebarmy · 13/02/2015 11:10

This is the recipe I use. (Don't be put off by the ridiculously wordy method)

They have never come out spongey. I don't store them at room temperature though. I keep them in the fridge and they are always perfect.

storynanny2 · 13/02/2015 11:38

I've been experimenting with the recipe for years and have just found the best ever! I think I have been wrongly assuming it needs melted real chocolate in the mixture, but the one I will post next is cocoa powder then add chopped choc at the end.

storynanny2 · 13/02/2015 11:42

Ingredients
Serves: 20
400g caster sugar
225g butter, melted
60g cocoa powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 eggs
225g plain flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

I added chopped dark chocolate at the end. It wasn't a cake mixture rather like uncooked dough. I made half the quantity and cooked in an 8" square tin about 20 to 25 mins gas 4.
Very squidgy in the middle and delicious straight from the fridge.

lemisscared · 13/02/2015 11:47

shameless place marking

scotchmincepie · 13/02/2015 11:49

how to make the perfect brownies - Felicity Cloake

I think the trick is taking them out before you think they are done (requires a bit of fortune telling and bravery). Personally I think a slightly underdone brownie is better than an overdone one.

I didn't like Nigella's recipe...

RainingSocks · 13/02/2015 11:54

There used to be a recipe on here, by a poster named SuzyWong, that everyone who made it raved about. It might be in the recipe section.

RainingSocks · 13/02/2015 12:01

Here it is.

MeanwhileHighAboveTheField · 13/02/2015 12:07

Making me hungry!

LollyLondon · 13/02/2015 12:13

Wow, thanks everyone!
No idea which to make first....
Will report back!

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CatsClaus · 13/02/2015 12:19

laura in the kitchen recipe is very agreeable....and easy to modify, add choc chip, nuts, bashed up creme eggs, broken up oreo biscuits

I do usually make 1.5 times the recipe though but I have a 9.5 inch square brownie tin and ime you NEED a deep fill....skimpy amounts of batter result in dry cakey brownies, so always err on the small side with your tin choice

Also think I have done the HFW recipe...again very good.

On the whole the less flour they have in them the better they are.

Bluestocking · 13/02/2015 12:26

This is the best recipe I've ever used.

Linda McCartney's brownies

300g unsalted butter

300g Green & Black's dark chocolate (70% dark or 72% cooking chocolate), broken into pieces

5 large eggs

450g granulated sugar

1 tbs vanilla extract

200g plain flour

1 tsp salt

250g dried cherries

preparation time: 15 minutes

cooking time: 25 minutes

makes: 28 brownies

use: 1 baking or roasting tin 34 x 25 cm and at least 6 cm deep

Pre-heat the oven to 180°C/350 F/gas mark 4. Line the baking tin with greaseproof paper or baking parchment. Melt the butter and chocolate together in a heat-proof bowl suspended over a saucepan of barely simmering water. Beat the eggs, sugar and vanilla extract together in a bowl until the mixture is thick and creamy and coats the back of a spoon. Once the butter and the chocolate have melted, remove from the heat and beat in the egg mixture. Sift the flour and salt together, then add them to the mixture and continue to beat until smooth. Stir in the dried cherries.

Pour into the roasting tin, ensuring the mixture is evenly distributed in the tin. Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the whole of the top has formed a light brown crust that has started to crack. This giant brownie should not wobble, but should remain gooey on the inside. Leave to cool for 20 minutes in the pan. The greaseproof paper or baking parchment should peel off easily.

The cherries are optional - they weren't in the original recipe, but they taste really good. Try adding nuts or other dried fruits- or make plain chocolate brownies without any extras at all.

LollyLondon · 17/02/2015 09:19

I've decided to work my way through all of the recipes - finding the perfect brownie is a serious business!
I started with the BBC recipe from mychildrenarebarmy. Omg, it was amazing - thanks so much

OP posts:
GreenMouse · 17/02/2015 09:30

Try Mumsnet's own SuzyWong's recipe: www.mumsnet.com/food/recipe/851-Brownies, it's totally failsafe. I sometimes omit the walnuts
:)

PretzelPrincess · 17/02/2015 09:54

I was like you and could never make brownies. Even tried a ready made packet mix and failed. Then I found this recipie-amazingly delicious everytime.

Www.thenovice.co.uk

FunMitFlags · 17/02/2015 10:03

Nigella's Everyday Brownies (think the recipe is in 'Feast'). They key thing is not to overcook (and to use good ingredients).

DoItTooJulia · 17/02/2015 10:10

Ah, my favourite is already here, it's so good!

I love the linda McCartney recipe Bluestocking has posted. And I mean LOVE it!

PretzelPrincess · 17/02/2015 11:49

I second what Fun said. Good quality ingredients and don't over cook them.