Classic Chocolate Chunk Brownies

Possibly the most delicious thing ever created! THE BROWNIE! Crispy on the outside and wonderfully gooey on the inside. These brownies are fail-safe, easy and so yummy. My preferred way of eating them? Warm with Ben and Jerry's ice-cream. I promise you you can't go wrong!

Ingredients 

-170g butter

-150g dark chocolate

-300g sugar

- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

- pinch of salt

- 3 large eggs

-140g plain flour

-100g milk chcolate (roughly chopped)

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Grease (20cm)  baking tray.

2. Place dark chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl and place in a saucepan of water on a medium heat. Heat gently until melted. Leave to cool for 5 minutes. 

3. Stir in sugar, salt and vanilla extract to cooled chocolate mixture.

4. Add in eggs one at a time, mixing with a wooden spoon after each addition.

5.Chop milk chocolate roughly on a chopping board.

6. Add to brownie mixture. Incorporate the flour into mixture.

7. Place mixture in baking tray and bake for around 30 minutes.

                                       

                                       

8. Once baked remove from the oven. Cut brownies into equal squares and eat warm or leave to cool and dust with icing sugar.

Healthy Apple and Raspberry Muffins

Who says baking can't be healthy? These muffins are the perfect balance between being and a treat and being nutritious. They aren't particularly sweet as I only added a small amount of brown sugar. Most of the flavor comes from the apple and raspberries. I personally enjoy these as a quick and easy summer breakfast. Simply gently heat them and serve with your favorite coffee. Perfection!

Ingredients (for 12)

- 3 large cooking apples

- 450ml water

-2 teaspoons cinnamon

- butter for greasing

-300g plain wholewheat flour

-1tbsp baking powder

-pinch of salt

-1 tsp vanilla extract

- 3tbsp light brown sugar (more if desired)

-85g fresh raspberries

Method

1. thinly slice 2 peeled and cored cooking apples and place in saucepan with 6 tbsp of the water. Bring to boil then reduce heat. Add one tsp of cinnamon and cover pan to simmer for 15-20 minutes until all water has been absorbed. (add more water if apple starts to stick to bottom of the pan.) 

2.Remove apple mixture from the pan and leave to cool. Blend the mixture in a food processor until smooth.Add remaining water and mix well. Set aside.

3. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees. Grease Muffin tray with butter (this is very important as buns will stick if this step is not completed properly, if using muffin cases make sure they are also greased.)

4. Sift flour, salt, baking powder, sugar, remaining cinnamon.

5. Slowly add cooled apple mixture and vanilla extract to dry ingredients and stir gently.

6. Chop remaining apple. Add the chopped apple and raspberries to the wet mixture slowly and gently. 

7. Place muffin mixture in greased muffin tray (should make around 12.) Bake for 25 minutes until golden brown and risen. Place on wire rack to cool and sprinkle with icing sugar. 

Rainy Day Smarties Cookies

So it was a horrible rainy summer day as usual in the beautiful country of Northern Ireland. So, naturally, Kyra and I decided to try and recreate one of greatest creations known to man! Dominoes cookies. You know the ones that are gorgeously gooey in the middle? But we wanted to put our own special twist on it so we decided to use those sweets with no artificial colourings or preservatives. Better known as Smarties. They're super easy to make and absolutely delicious. Confession: we might have had more than one..

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/3 cup water
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/4 cups flour
2 tubes smarties 

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325°F.
2. Cream together butter, sugars, vanilla and salt.
3. Beat in cocoa powder.
4. Dissolve baking soda in water and mix into dough.
5. Stir in flour, and then smarties.
6. Place dough by spoonful on a greased baking sheet.
7. Bake for 14 to 16 minutes.