Brownies

You can get brownie mixes and get to the fun part of the brownie experience within minutes, but in my opinion, investing a bit more time in making brownies from scratch is extremely rewarding. As with my cake breads, I got the originial recipe from the internet, but I've tweaked it enough to call it my own. Again, I have a base recipe with suggested variations.

Base

• 2 large eggs
• 6-7 tbsp butter, depending on your health
• 1 tsp vanilla essence
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup all purpose flour (maida)
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 2-3 tbsp cup sour cream (or greek yoghurt)

Base Additions

• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/2 cup chopped chocolate pieces
• 1/6 cup flax meal
• 1 tbsp crushed peppermint candy

Frosting

• 2-3 tbsp butter, depending on your health
• 1 tsp vanilla essence
• 3/4 cup confectioner's sugar
• 2 tbsp honey
• 3 tbsp cocoa powder

Frosting Additions

• 1/3 cup toasted oats, or pistachios, or almonds
• Rind from one orange
• 1 tsp crushed cardamom seed
• 1/2 tsp rose essence

Base Steps

• Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Soften the butter, either by leaving it out for a few hours, or leaving it in an oven that's pre-heating for 5 mins.
• Use the softened butter to coat inside of 9x9 loaf pan or square glass bowl.
• Break eggs and whisk enough to break the yolks. Add vanilla essence and softened butter and whisk.
• Add sugar and whisk.
• Sift flour, cocoa, salt and baking powder in a bowl.
• Add the additions as desired to the flour. (Not all of them, that's terrible.)
• Fold flour mix into egg mix.
• When evenly folded, add sour cream and fold again. Pour batter into square pan or bowl.
• Bake for 25 mins or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
• Cool on rack for 5-10 mins.
• Add frosting as described below.
• Cool another 30 mins and serve.
• Store lightly covered at room temperature for 4-5 days before putting leftovers in the fridge.

Frosting

• Soften the butter, either by leaving it out for a few hours, or leaving it in an oven that's pre-heating for 5 mins.
• While batter is baking, mix all frosting ingredients bit by bit so it's easy to combine with a spoon.
• Add the additions as desired to the mix. (Not all of them, that's terrible). Not the toasted oats or nuts though.
• If mix is too dry, microwave for a few seconds or get oven heat, or add few tsp maple syrup or even few tsp water. If it's too runny, add more confectioner's sugar. In the end, it should be spreadable, but should hold its shape, somewhere between peanut butter (too runny) and marzipan (too firm).
• When base has cooled a bit, spread frosting on still-warm base.
• Top with oats or nuts, if desired.