brownie

Tahini Brownie

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I’m not sure what it is, but it seems more and more of my internet friends are falling victims of strange and spectacular baking nightmares.

Things burn, don’t raise, turn out to be weird colours… and it’s happened so much in the past few weeks I’m starting to worry it’s not just a coincidence!

No way that’ll stop be from baking though – I absolutely need both the process and the resulting cake to face the very stressful period of change I’m currently into! – so I more than ever rely on tried-and-tested, fool- (and catastrophy-) proof recipe.

Tahini Brownie Recipe // Cake + Whisky

On top of that list comes brownies.

SO easy to make (no fuss whatsoever), SO delicious (moist and dense and chocolatey and everything a good brownie should be).

I’ve been using the base recipe for years (about 10 of them!) and it’s simply perfect.

And, as it turns out, even better with added tahini to create those dreamy squares of tahini brownie goodness!

Tahini Brownie Recipe // Cake + Whisky

Because it tastes best the day after it’s baked, this tahini brownie is the ultimate make-ahead treat…

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And, if you don’t look too closely, you might even say it’s a fantastic square meal!

Pin for later:

Tahini Brownie Recipe // Cake + Whisky

More foolproof cake recipes:

Banana bread (V, Vg & DF options)

Simple lemon cake (V)

Cranberry oatmeal cake (V)

The best carrot cake (V)

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Tahini Brownie

Halloween Monster Brookies

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Sure you can buy them in the stores, but there’s something special and fun about making your own Halloween treats.

Halloween Monster Brookies | Cake + Whisky

As far as I’m concerned the spookiest day of the year is as good an excuse as any to bake a batch of favourite sweet treats… And everybody knows that brownies are the way to my heart.

Halloween Monster Brookies | Cake + Whisky

Now, I’m a big fan of the traditional recipe, but trust me when I say Brookies, the genius crossing between brownies and cookies, are next level good.

Halloween Monster Brookies | Cake + Whisky

Chewy, crumbly, super chocolate-y and just a tiny bit spooky, these Monster Brookies are the ultimate Halloween-win treat, and you definitely want a batch (or three) of those in your life ASAP!

Halloween Monster Brookies | Cake + Whisky

Halloween Monster Brookies (makes 6 monster-sized cookies)

Ingredients:

  • 120g 70% dark chocolate
  • 15g butter
  • 75g caster sugar
  • 30g cornflour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 egg
  • 15g chocolate chips
  • 30g Smarties
  • a few drops dark food coloring (or, even better, a food-safe black pencil)

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C.

2. Place the chocolate and butter in a bowl and set over a pan of simmering water. Stir until melted and combined, then remove from the heat.

3. In the meantime, combine the sugar, cornflour, baking powder and egg and whisk until light and fluffy. Add the chocolate-butter mixture and mix until well combined.

4. Spoon tablespoons of mixture onto baking trays lined with baking paper, making sure you leave enough space inbetween them (they spread A LOT while baking). Dot the top of the cookies with the chocolate chips and Smarties.

5. Bake for 12-13 min in the preheated oven, then set aside to cool before drawing eyes using the black food colouring.

Halloween Monster Brookies

Salted Caramel Brownies

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So, today’s the day.

The day when I’m officially closer to 30 than I am to 20.

Feeling old much? YOU BET!

Salted Caramel Brownies | Cake + Whisky

Luckily, birthdays are nature’s way of telling you to eat more cake, and god knows that’s something I’m always up for!

Salted Caramel Brownies | Cake + Whisky

Now, birthday brownies are a bit of a tradition in my house (find out why here), but this year’s needed to step it up a notch…

And what’s the best way to make any amazing dessert even better?

You know it: SALTED CARAMEL e’rythiiiiiiiiiiiing!

Salted Caramel Brownies | Cake + Whisky

So here it is. Salted caramel brownies.

Now, I used to be a triple choc’ brownies kind of girl. And then I made those and I’m telling you: TOTAL GAME CHANGER!

100-billion-calories-a-slice game changer, but after all, birthday = ultimate cheat day, right?

(and if it’s not quiiiite your birthday yet, well, you could always celebrate your un-birthday instead! ??)

Salted Caramel Brownies | Cake + Whisky

 

Salted Caramel Brownies (serves 6-8)

You’ll need: 

For the brownies: 

  • 120g soft (but NOT MELTED!) salted butter
  • 160g granulated sugar
  • 3 big eggs
  • 70g self-raising flour
  • 200g dark chocolate

For the salted caramel sauce: 

  • 150g granulated sugar
  • 40g salted butter
  • about 100ml pouring or double cream
  • a generous pinch of salt

1. Pre-heat your oven to 160°C. Butter and flour a brownie pan (I like to use a 21×21 glass roasting tray like this one)

2. Make your caramel sauce: In a medium saucepan, put the sugar and a little bit of water. Cook over a hot stove until it turns a deep-brown colour and doesn’t re-crystalised if taken off the heat for a few seconds. Add in the butter, mix well, then add the cream and mix again. Add the salt, then leave to the side to cool down.

3. Make your brownies batter: In a big mixing bowl, combine the butter and sugar, then add the eggs and the flour. Melt your chocolate over a double-boiler, then add it to the batter and mix until well combined.

4. Pour about half of your brownies batter into the buttered and floured pan, cover with a layer of salted caramel sauce, then top with the remaining brownies batter. Bake for 30-35 min.

5. Let the brownies cool down (they’re even better the following day!) before serving with the remaining salted caramel sauce drizzled on top.

Do you have any birthday traditions? I’d love to hear them in the comments!!

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Salted Caramel Brownies | Cake + Whisky

Salted Caramel Brownies