Chocolate and Walnut Brownie

The brownies, also refered to as a Boston brownie, are a dense squares of chewy chocolate cake, usually containing nuts, named after its color. Brownies comes in all kinds of sizes and shapes and sometimes glazed with fudge and often containing nuts, chips, peanut butter etc. Brownies are simple to bake and is often used as an example recipe for novice chefs and bakers.

It was my Hubby's B'Day and thought to bake a Brownie this time instead of Cake. Since Rahul is not so fond of Walnuts, I have also added Almonds along with Walnuts in the Brownie. Brownies also goes well as a delicious dessert for Christmas Parties.

Instead of baking them in traditional way, I have tried to introduce few shortcuts and make it simple, and the result was dark, nutty and moist Brownie.

Ingredients:
1 Cup Maida (Plain Flour / Self Raising Flour)
3/4 Cup Butter
3/4 Cup Cocoa Powder
2 Tablespoons of Coffee
1 Tablespoon Hot Water
1/2 Cup Sugar
2 Large Eggs
2 Teaspoons Vanila Extract
1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1/4 Teaspoon Salt
3/4 Cup Chopped Walnuts and Almonds
1/4 Cup Chocolate Chips

Method:
1. Combine Butter and Coco powder in a bowl. Instead of following the traditional method of melting butter and cocoa on a double boiler, I have placed the bowl in a Microwave only for 1 Minute. Once the butter is melted remove it from the microwave and mix the butter with Cocoa well and see to it there are no lumps. It should be a smooth batter.

2. In a bowl break the eggs and add sugar to it. Use a hand blender and whisk the eggs and sugar together with the blender. Whisk the eggs till the mixture becomes double in size. One can increase the amount of sugar if one prefers more sweetness.

3. Since I prefer bitter Brownie, I have combine coffee and hot water and added to the butter and cocoa mixture.

4. Now combine the Egg and sugar mixture with the butter and Cocoa mixture. Add Vanila extract and mix both the mixture properly. Hand blender comes to my rescue, I have mixed both the mixture with the help of the blender. Keep this mixture aside.

5. Now in a big deep bowl, sieve Maida, baking powder and salt together. Now add the dark chocolate combined mixture in the flour. Fold the flour with chocolate mixture and while folding the mixture add chopped nuts and chocolate chips in between. If you cannot find chocolate chips add grated dark chocolate bar or chunks. Remember to fold the mixture in one direction.

6. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees celsius. Grease the Square baking tray or place a grease proof paper or Butter paper. Pour the batter in the tray, sprinkle few chopped nuts and chocolate chips on top, I have sprinkled chopped almonds as it gives nice nutty look to the brownie once it is baked. Bake the mixture for about 25 - 30 Minutes or when you pierce the tip of the knife and it comes out clean or there are cracks on the top of the mixture.

7. Remove it from the oven and allow it to cool. Then cut in to small square pieces. Brownies are best served when they are warmed and accompanied with cold vanila ice cream. The warm chocolate brownie compliments the cold ice cream.

The Other goodies prepared for the B'Day Boy will be posted soon.

This is my entry for my very own Christmas Feast Event

This entry also goes for Home Made Christmas Gifts , Santa's Holiday Challenge

and Baking for Beginners event

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Hema of Adlak's Kitchen has celebrated her 100th Post and she has showered upon me Best Blogger Friend Award, Thnak you Hema, I am really thankful to you.