Brownie is the most popular chocolate dessert in America and Canada. It is a pie, a cake, and a pudding at the same time. The secret of the dessert lies in its unique consistency. And how to cook it, you will find out in this article review.
Recipe content:
- Brownie types
- Cooking secrets
- Brownie - the classic recipe
- Step by step brownie recipe
- Cherry Brownie Recipe
- Brownie with cottage cheese
- Video recipes
Brownie is a rectangular brown cake made from chocolate. The consistency of the product, depending on the recipe, can be similar to a cake, or a cookie, or a muffin. Today this dessert is loved not only by Americans and Canadians, it is known and adored all over the world. Because this is a real temptation for chocolate lovers!
In culinary tradition, it is believed that the chocolate dessert got its name from its characteristic brown color. Translated from English "brown" means brown. At the same time, the cake is baked exclusively in one large layer, after which it is cut into rectangular pieces, from which separate cakes are obtained. That is why there is no definite answer - is it a cake, pie or cake. Well, we will not go into details, but rather move on to the recipes and subtleties of cooking.
Brownie types
- Fudgy brownies, literal translation of "live" brownies, because the inside of the product is liquid. This product looks like a tender and juicy pudding.
- Cakelike brownies - the taste and consistency of the dessert are as similar as possible to chocolate cakes.
- Chewy brownies are a gooey filling. The consistency of such filling is obtained thanks to the additional egg included in the recipe.
- Blondies - A cake without chocolate, but similar in consistency to a brownie. Pastries are prepared based on brown sugar, eggs and butter.
Secrets of making brownies
Cooking a chocolate treat is pleasant and interesting, and besides, it is also not so difficult. But, despite this, you still need to know some subtleties.
- Corresponding recipe. I like airy and not very wet cakes, then choose a recipe with a lot of sugar and butter. If you want baked goods that are not so dense, but with a viscous texture, similar to fuja candies, be guided by the composition of the recipe with a lot of chocolate.
- The right chocolate. Chocolate doesn't always have to be confectionery like in a professional industrial factory. Experts say a classic supermarket chocolate bar is fine for the brownie. If you break it in large pieces, then it will melt slowly, making the dessert rich. A combination of chocolates is also allowed: black and milk, black and white.
- Ingredients at the correct temperature. The products used must be + 22 ° C, i.e. room temperature. Therefore, you need to get eggs and butter out of the refrigerator in advance so that they warm up. Then they will be much better connected, from which the dough will turn out creamy and smooth. Well, if you forgot to get the ingredients out of the refrigerator, soak them in warm water for 10 minutes, after which they can be used in cooking.
- Do not overuse aromatic additives. Chocolate is quite aromatic, so it is better not to put a lot of additives in the dough (mint, nuts, citrus fruits, vanilla). One odorous addition will be enough.
- Do not overexpose the product in the oven. Always adhere to baking times. Dessert is easy to bake or not bake. In the first case, the delicacy will turn out to be overdried, and in the second, it will be too viscous and wet. Ideal brownies are evenly baked, crispy and moist on the inside. Average cooking time is 25-30 minutes.
- Let the finished product cool well. Cut the cake into small pieces only when cooled down. Then they will easily go out of shape.
Brownie - the classic recipe
The classic chocolate brownie is crispy on the outside and stringy on the inside, as if soaked in syrup. You can get such a consistency only thanks to the traditional recipe below.
- Caloric content per 100 g - 466 kcal.
- Servings Per Container - 6-8 Servings
- Cooking time - 40 minutes
Ingredients:
- Dark chocolate - 100 g
- Sugar - 200 g
- Butter - 180 g
- Flour - 100 g
- Peeled walnuts - 100 g (optional)
- Eggs - 2 pcs.
Step-by-step preparation of the cake:
- Heat the chocolate, broken into pieces and butter at a warm temperature (over a fire, water bath, microwave) without boiling, and stir until smooth.
- Stir in the sifted flour into the chocolate base.
- Beat eggs at room temperature with a mixer with sugar.
- Pour the egg into the chocolate mass and stir until smooth.
- Grind the nuts with a blender and place in the dough.
- Cover the baking sheet with parchment, brush with vegetable oil and pour the dough.
- Send the brownie to bake in a preheated oven to 200 ° C for 20-25 minutes.
- Remove the parchment from the finished dessert and cool.
- Cut the treat into rectangles and top with apricot icing, if desired.
Step by step brownie recipe
There are many brownie recipes. They are all quite different. There are recipes with cranberries, cherries, cottage cheese, candied fruits, pistachios, nuts - choose for every taste. In this recipe, you are invited to prepare an exquisite delicacy with walnuts.
Ingredients:
- Bitter chocolate - 200 g
- Sugar - 250 g
- Butter - 170 g
- Egg - 3 pcs.
- Flour - 125 g
- Walnuts - 0.5 cups (hazelnuts, almonds, cashews can be used)
- Baking powder or soda - 1 tsp
Brownie preparation:
- Break the chocolate and place in a bowl. Add room temperature butter and melt food in a steam bath or microwave. Make sure that the chocolate does not boil, otherwise it will taste bitter. Better not to burn out than overheat.
- Stir the chocolate with butter until smooth and cool slightly.
- Add flour to the chocolate mass and stir to avoid lumps.
- Whisk the eggs with sugar until lightly foamy and add to the chocolate mixture.
- Grind the walnuts, but not to crumbs, put in the dough, add baking powder and mix.
- Cover the form with parchment and fill with dough.
- Send the cake to a preheated oven at 180 ° C. To get the consistency of muffin dough, keep the brownie in the oven for 35 minutes, moist inside - 25. Check the readiness with a skewer. If it comes out dry, it means that it is a cupcake, raw - a wet filling.
- Cool the finished baked goods and cut into slices. If desired, cover the cake with chocolate icing on top.
- Serve deliciously with a scoop of ice cream and a fresh cup of coffee.
Cherry Brownie Recipe
Photo of the finished dessert After mastering the classic recipe, you can proceed to the advanced options. Since chocolate goes well with cherries, this berry will be a great addition to a delicious product. You can use it fresh, canned or frozen.
Ingredients:
- Chocolate 70-95% - 200 g
- Cocoa powder - 20 g
- Butter - 100 g
- Sugar - 150 g
- Flour - 100 g
- Eggs - 3 pcs.
- Pitted cherries - 300 g
Cooking a chocolate brownie:
- Break the chocolate in medium pieces and combine in a bowl with butter, which should be soft. Melt food until liquid (do not bring to a boil!) And stir well.
- Add sugar, flour and cocoa to the chocolate mass. Stir again.
- Beat the eggs with a mixer and pour into the dough.
- Remove the seeds from the berries and place with all the products. If they are frozen or canned, place them in a strainer to drain the liquid.
- Knead the dough and pour into a parchment-lined mold.
- Place the brownie in a preheated oven at 180 ° C for 20-25 minutes.
- Cool the finished dessert and cut into portions. From the specified amount of food, 6-8 servings are obtained.
Brownie with cottage cheese
Another recipe for a more complex dessert is with curd cheese and cherries. This delicacy can rightfully be called an exquisite gourmet brownie cake that will melt the heart of the most demanding and sophisticated gourmet. Ingredients:
- Bitter chocolate - 100 g
- Butter - 120 g
- Sugar - 150 g
- Flour - 150 g
- Eggs - 4 pcs.
- Baking powder - 1 tsp
- Soft cottage cheese - 300 g
- Frozen cherries - 400 g
- Vanillin - 1 tsp
Preparation:
- Melt the pieces of chocolate in a water bath until they are soft. Then mix well until smooth.
- Cool chocolate, add flour and baking powder.
- Eggs (2 pcs.), Sugar (50 g), salt and vanillin, beat with a mixer.
- Combine food and stir. Divide the resulting dough into 3 parts.
- Cottage cheese, if it is grainy, then wipe through a sieve. After, combine with the remaining sugar and eggs. Beat the mixture until creamy with a blender or mixer. Divide the curd cream into 2 parts.
- Defrost the cherries, put them in a sieve to make the liquid glass and divide into 2 parts.
- Line a baking dish with parchment and grease with oil.
- Pour the dough, cherries, cream, etc. into the mold one by one. The last and first layer should be chocolate.
- Send the cake to a heated oven at 180 ° C for 40-45 minutes.
- Check readiness with a splinter - dry, baked goods are ready.
- Cool the dessert and cut into portions.
As you can see, brownies are easy to prepare. Therefore, I recommend every hostess to take note of it. And now I propose to watch video recipes that will clearly show you how to cook a delicious homemade treat.
