brownies for a birthday

Sometimes people respond with disbelief when you mention delicious vegan food. This seems even more so when it comes to cakes. I know people who think that “delicious vegan cake” is an oxymoron. More fool them.

I was at my sister’s birthday party recently. At family gatherings we all bring part of the meal and there are always plenty of vegan options, except for the cake. So this time I offered to bring the birthday cake, as usually I don’t get to eat any.

I made brownies that were slightly adapted from the recipe at Oh She Glows. I used more walnuts and chocolate chips and slightly more raising agent. One reason I think they were so delicious because I didn’t stint on the quality of the chocolate. I used 70% couverture chocolate and some top-notch cocoa, both from Monsieur Truffe in East Brunswick. They were not overly sweet, with a fantastic, slightly bitter, dark chocolate flavour.

They were a huge hit with everyone. Crispy on the outside, chewy in the middle, studded with plenty of walnuts and served with raspberries and coconut yoghurt. And some birthday candles. 🙂

brownies

 

Print

prep time

15 mins

cook time

2 hours

total time

2 hours 15 mins

 

author: quincesandkale adapted from oh she glows

recipe type: Dessert

cuisine: vegan

serves: 16

ingredients

• 1½ tbsp ground flax + 3 tbsp water mixed together in a small bowl
• ¾ cup plain flour
• 1½ cups almond meal
• ½ cup cocoa powder
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 5 tbs non-dairy butter (I used Half Pint Vegan Dairy Butter Me Up)
• 1 cup dark chocolate pieces
• 1¼ cup caster sugar
• 5 tbsp non dairy milk (I used almond)
• 1 tsp vanilla
• ¾ cup roughly chopped walnuts

instructions

1. Preheat oven to 170C.
2. Line a 20 cm square tin with baking paper and lightly grease.
3. In a large bowl, mix together the dry ingredients (flour, almond meal, cocoa, salt, bicarb).
4. Melt ½ cup of the chocolate and the butter in a microwave or over a saucepan of hot water.
5. Add in flax mixture, sugar, vanilla, and almond milk and mix well.
6. Pour the wet mixture over dry mixture and stir to combine.
7. Now fold in the walnuts and remaining ½ cup chocolate chips and stir. It is a fairly stiff mix.
8. Scoop the mix into the cake tin and smooth down flat.
9. Bake for 35 minutes.
10. Allow brownies to cool in pan for about 1.5 hours. Be patient!
11. Remove carefully from pan onto a cooling rack.
12. Allow to cool completely before slicing.

3.2.2925