Description
Indulge in the best of both worlds with these decadent brookies! A delightful fusion of rich, fudgy brownie and chewy chocolate chip cookie, these brookies are packed with intense chocolate flavor and a satisfyingly soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Perfect for satisfying your sweet cravings and guaranteed to become a new family favorite.
Ingredients:
- 95 g (¾ cups) plain (all-purpose) flour
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 225 g (1 ¼ cups) dark chocolate, chopped
- 56 g (¼ cups) butter, salted or unsalted
- 2 eggs, room temperature
- 100 g (¾ cups) caster sugar
- 90 g (½ cups) demerara sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 85 g (½ cups) dark or milk chocolate chips
- Sea salt, for sprinkling (optional)
Preparation:
Step 1: Preheat the Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 160ºC (320ºF) if you’re using a fan-forced oven or 170ºC (338ºF) for conventional heating. This ensures even baking and the perfect brookie texture. While the oven is heating, prepare a baking tray by lining it with parchment paper. Parchment paper prevents sticking and makes for easy cleanup.
Step 2: Melt Chocolate and Butter: In a heatproof bowl, combine the chopped dark chocolate and butter. Place this bowl over a pan of simmering water, making sure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water. This is a double boiler setup, which gently melts the chocolate and butter without scorching. Stir occasionally until the chocolate and butter are fully melted, smooth, and combined. Once melted, remove the bowl from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract. The vanilla enhances the chocolate flavor and adds a subtle warmth.
Step 3: Whip Eggs and Sugars: In a separate medium bowl, use an electric hand whisk on high speed to beat the caster sugar, demerara sugar, and eggs. Continue whisking until the mixture becomes very light, thick, and fluffy. This step is crucial for achieving a chewy brookie with a delicate crumb. The mixture should almost triple in volume and form a ribbon-like trail when the whisk is lifted. It typically takes about 5-7 minutes of whisking to reach the desired consistency.
Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients: In another bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Sifting ensures that the dry ingredients are evenly distributed and that there are no lumps, which can affect the texture of the brookies. Add the chocolate chips to the dry mixture.
Step 5: Integrate Chocolate Mixture: Gradually fold the melted chocolate and butter mixture into the whipped eggs and sugars. It’s important to fold gently to maintain the airiness of the whipped eggs, which contributes to the brookies’ light and chewy texture.
Step 6: Fold in Dry Ingredients: Carefully fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture using a spatula. Again, be gentle and ensure not to overmix the mixture. Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, resulting in tough brookies. Mix only until just combined, meaning there are no visible streaks of flour remaining.
Step 7: Bake the Brookies: Scoop tablespoons of batter onto the prepared baking tray, spacing them well apart to allow for spreading during baking. Using a cookie scoop ensures evenly sized brookies. Bake in the preheated oven for 12-14 minutes, or until the brookies are set and crackly on top. They should still be slightly soft in the center.
Step 8: Cool and Finish: Remove the brookies from the oven and sprinkle with sea salt immediately, if desired. The sea salt enhances the sweetness of the brookies. Let them cool on the baking tray for about 10 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack to cool completely. Cooling on the baking tray allows them to firm up and prevents them from breaking apart.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
These brookies are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for several reasons:
- Perfect Texture: The combination of brownie and cookie creates a unique texture – fudgy, chewy, and melt-in-your-mouth all at once.
- Intense Chocolate Flavor: The use of both dark chocolate and cocoa powder delivers a rich, decadent chocolate experience.
- Easy to Make: The recipe is straightforward and doesn’t require any complicated techniques.
- Customizable: You can easily adapt the recipe to your preferences by adding different types of chocolate chips, nuts, or other mix-ins.
- Perfect for Any Occasion: Whether you’re baking for a party, a snack, or simply to satisfy your sweet cravings, these brookies are always a hit.
COOKING Rating:
Easy
Serving Suggestions:
- Enjoy warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
- Serve with a glass of cold milk or a cup of coffee.
- Package them up as a thoughtful homemade gift.
- Bring them to your next potluck or bake sale.
- Layer them in a trifle with whipped cream and berries.
Tips:
- Room Temperature Eggs: Using room temperature eggs helps the eggs to incorporate better into the batter, resulting in a smoother and lighter texture. Take the eggs out about 30 minutes before starting to bake.
- Don’t Overmix: Overmixing develops gluten, leading to tough brookies. Mix only until the ingredients are just combined.
- Watch the Baking Time: Brookies are best when they are slightly underbaked. Start checking for doneness at 12 minutes.
- Chocolate Quality: Using high-quality chocolate makes a big difference in the flavor of the brookies.
- Storage: Store cooled brookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Prep Time:
15 minutes
Cook Time:
12-14 minutes
Total Time:
Approximately 30 minutes (including cooling time)
Nutritional Information:
(Note: Nutritional information is an estimate and may vary based on specific ingredients and serving size.)
Calories: Approximately 250-300 per brookie
Protein: Approximately 3-4 grams per brookie
Sodium: Approximately 50-70mg per brookie
Conclusion
These fudgy chewy brookies are more than just a recipe; they’re an experience. The perfect balance of brownie and cookie, the intense chocolate flavor, and the satisfying texture make them a truly irresistible treat. So, preheat your oven, gather your ingredients, and get ready to bake a batch of brookies that will leave everyone wanting more! Questions and Answers About This Recipe
Question 1: Can I use unsalted butter instead of salted butter? Answer: Yes, you can definitely use unsalted butter. Just add an extra pinch (about 1/8 teaspoon) of salt to the dry ingredients to compensate for the lack of salt in the butter. This will help to balance the sweetness of the brookies and enhance the overall flavor.
Question 2: What can I do if I don’t have demerara sugar? Answer: If you don’t have demerara sugar, you can substitute it with light brown sugar. Demerara sugar adds a slightly molasses-like flavor and a slightly coarser texture, but light brown sugar will work well as a substitute. The difference in flavor will be subtle.
Question 3: My brookies are too cakey. What did I do wrong? Answer: Cakey brookies can be caused by a few factors: Overmixing the batter, which develops too much gluten, or using too much flour. Be sure to measure your flour accurately and mix the batter only until the ingredients are just combined. Also, check your baking powder to make sure it is still active.
Question 4: Can I add nuts to this recipe? Answer: Absolutely! Adding chopped nuts like walnuts, pecans, or almonds can add a wonderful crunch and nutty flavor to your brookies. Fold about 1/2 cup of chopped nuts into the batter along with the chocolate chips.
Question 5: How do I prevent my brookies from spreading too thin while baking? Answer: To prevent your brookies from spreading too thin, make sure your oven is at the correct temperature. Also, chilling the dough for 30 minutes to an hour before baking can help them hold their shape better. Finally, avoid using melted butter in the recipe; it should be softened but not melted.
