Dark Chocolate and Raspberry Brownies

For those of you that know me well, you’ll know I’ve given up chocolate for an entire year (a bet with Dr Husband, that I am currently winning). So you may question the wisdom of me making chocolate brownies as my Friday treat, this doesn’t really look like fleeing temptation. Well, you’ll be glad to hear they are for someone else. I sometimes don’t know how I’d survive motherhood without a wonderful network of mummies who help me out; they’re from my local church. When Daisy was born I received enough meals to feed an army for 4 weeks, we’ve barely had to buy any baby equipment or toys as they are always lending theirs out. Today one of them is looking after her so I can visit The Clothes Show, the brownies are for her and her boys as a thank you (I doubt they’ll be any left for her husband.)

The recipe is actually from Boarderfields Cold Pressed British Rapeseed Oil, and is Kenny Atkinson’s Dark Chocolate and Raspberry Brownies. I’ve been slightly rapeseed oil obsessed recently as it’s an easy way to cut the amount of saturated fat, it’s rich in omega-3 and according to BBC Good Food is a heart-friendly oil. I’m not sure that’s really relevant though if it’s in a chocolate brownie! Anyway here’s the recipe:

Dark Chocolate and Raspberry Brownies

• 240ml Boaderfield’s cold pressed rapeseed oil
• 350g light muscovado sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla essence
• 300g dark chocolate (melted)
• 100g cocoa powder
• 150g self raising flour
• 125g chocolate pieces (I used chocolate drops)
• 100g fresh raspberries

1. Heat the oven to 180C
2. Line a 22cm baking tray.
3. Beat the oil, sugar, eggs and vanilla essence.
4. Add the melted chocolate, and beat until smooth.
5. Sift the cocoa powder and the flour and stir in, add the chocolate pieces and fold in.
6. Place into a lined baking tray, carefully place the raspberries into the chocolate mix and press in.
7. Bake at 180 degrees for 30 mins approx. until firm and crusty, but with a soft gooey centre.
8. Allow to cool before cutting.

EAt!