Monday, April 30, 2007

Browniebabe of the Month

When Myriam from the wonderful Once Upon a Tart first announced this event I knew that I just had to take part. Brownies are one of those classic items that everyone seems to love.

It might sound strange but I haven't made that many brownies - they aren't really part of Italian cuisine so I've been trawling the books trying to find one that appealed to me. I finally settled on one from Australian Gourmet Traveller's Chocolate. I liked the fact that it used almond meal as this tends to give a moist result and rather than using nuts, it's dotted with chunks of white chocolate.

brownies

Chocolate, Almond and White Chocolate Brownies

125 grams softened butter, cut into small cubes
110 grams caster sugar
2 eggs
55 grams ground almonds/almond meal
65 grams plain flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 tablespoons Dutch process cocoa
125 grams dark couverture chocolate, melted (I used 70% Callebaut)
110 grams white couverture chocolate, roughly chopped ( I used Lindt)

Preheat the oven to 170°C/340°F and grease and line the base of a 20cm/8 inch square cake tin.

Sift the plain flour, baking powder and cocoa together and set to one side.

Place the softened butter and sugar into the bowl of a mixer and beat until light and fluffy.

Add the eggs, one at a time, making sure they are fully incorporated before adding the next.

Sprinkle over with almond meal and fold through using a rubber spatula. Next add the sifted flour mixture and stir through.

Pour over the melted chocolate and mix this through before finally adding the white chocolate chunks.

Spoon this out evenly into your prepared pan - you may need to use the back of a spoon to smooth out the surface.

Bake for about 40 minutes - the surface should be cooked but there should still feel springy to the touch.

Let it sit in the tin for about 5 minutes before moving it onto a wire rack to cool.

brownie

Cut into squares and serve.

brownie

The top is set with that slight crackling and the interior has that lovely chewy consistency that you expect with brownies.

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14 comments

  1. What a wonderful brownie. I like that uou used white chocolte, it gives it an original twist.Beautiful pictures.

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  2. AnonymousMay 01, 2007

    ouch, too busy packing and totally forgot about this event! Hrrmmpp. But your brownies looked great!

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  3. AnonymousMay 01, 2007

    Great brownies....thanks for sharing such lovely pictures

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  4. Haalo, this is so beautiful! I love to use ground almond, too. And the white chocolate addition must be wonderful! Perfect with an espresso in the weather we are having now.

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  5. Those look fantastic! I've never baked with ground almond before ... might be worth a try. Not sure if my market carries it though...

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  6. You're right, everyone loves a brownie! And I would love one of yours right now!

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  7. What a great recipe! Love the white chocolate peaking through. First picture is brilliant!

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  8. AnonymousMay 02, 2007

    mmmm, i've been way into brownies lately - these look fantastic!!! grins

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  9. Thanks Rose!

    Thanks Swee - best of luck with the packing, those limits make is so hard!

    Thanks Dilip!

    Thanks Anh, they do work well with coffee, they aren't too heavy, so you can have seconds ;)

    Thanks Christianne - if you can't find almond meal you can make it yourself by just processing blanched almonds until they are finely ground. This always works for the times I am short.

    Thanks Brilynn - I'd bake you a batch!

    Thanks Helene - I think it's a good balance of white chocolate, it just adds a little textural change

    Thanks Aria - I hope you give these a try!

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  10. Haalo, you used two of my greatest passions: white chocolate and almonds!! Not fair, I wish I could have some of these! :)

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  11. Brownies in May? Ah, I forget you live on the other side of the world Haalo. The first photo is VERY good.

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  12. Oh Patricia - I would have to pry them out of Paalo's hands but with the recipe you can have as many brownies as you desire.

    Thanks Trig - is there a food fashion rule I don't know about, no brownies in may? I am puzzled.

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  13. Autumn comfort, surely?

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  14. ahh, but do you think brownies are seasonal or do people eat them regardless of the weather?

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