Chocolate Brownies

Ingredients

• 200g good-quality dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids)
• 250g unsalted butter
• optional: 150g mixed nuts, roughly chopped
• 80g cocoa powder
• 65g plain flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 350g caster sugar
• 4 large eggs, preferably free-range or organic

Directions

To make your brownies:

Preheat your oven to 180ºC/350ºF/gas 4
Line a 20 x 30cm rectangular baking tin with greaseproof paper
Smash up the chocolate into small pieces

In a large bowl over some simmering water, melt the butter and the chocolate and mix until smooth
Add the nuts, if you're using them, and stir together
In a separate bowl, mix together the cocoa powder, flour, baking powder and sugar

Add this to the chocolate and nut mixture
Stir together well
Beat the eggs and mix in until you have a silky consistency

Pour your brownie mix into the baking tray, and place in the oven for around 25 minutes
You don't want to overcook them so, unlike cakes, you don't want a skewer to come out all clean
The brownies should be slightly springy on the outside but still gooey in the middle

Allow to cool in the tray, then carefully transfer to a large chopping board and cut into chunky squares
These make a fantastic dessert served with a dollop of crème fraîche mixed with some orange zest
© Jamie Oliver