One bowl fudgy Chocolate brownies

Okay the Diwali series has been dragging for like ever and I am feeling bad that I have been posting Diwali sweets though the festive season ended long back. Its December ~ the month of baking, gifting, decorating and merry-ing. The month were chillness creeps over but still you shrug it out and make gifts and sweets for near and dear. I have started seeing stars hanging out on the balconies of houses and people all around the world have started prepping up for the big day. And so is the blogsphere... Its chocolate, ginger and fruit cakes everywhere.

December brings back fond childhood memories for me. Memories where me and my childhood friend used to decorate their christmas tree the best our tiny fingers could. We didn't have the proper props but then we used to cut out paper stars and santas, sketch them and hang them all over the tree. And not to forget, the rich fondant covered fruit cake that uncle gifts us. I loved every bite of the cake with my milk. Things have changed but not the moments we enjoyed. This year this post I dedicate to my friend and to all the moments we lived together.

I had planned for a whole bunch of Christmas-y recipes all through this month. But there were other priorities which had to be taken care of and so all plans had to be dropped. Take this brownie recipe ~ it was actually prepared for my Diwali gift hamper and here I am posting it in the season of Christmas. But say what, these are perfect gifts for any season any month. I have already baked two batches of these ultra fudgy brownies for A's friends and they loved it. And I say, these photos of mine don't do justice to how yummy and addictive these dark beauties were.

Adapted from BakingBites Makes - 9 medium sized squares Butter - 50 gm Dark chocolate - 50 gms Sugar - 1/2 cup minus 2 tbsp Cocoa powder - 1 tbsp Egg - 1, large Salt - a pinch Vanilla extract - 1/2 tsp All purpose flour - 1/3 cup Chocolate chips / Chopped Walnuts - 1/4 cup (optional)

How I Made it:
Preheat oven to 175C. Line a baking pan with aluminum foil and lightly grease.. In aouble boiler melt butter and chocolate. Allow to cool slightly. Add sugar and cocoa powder and whisk together.

Add the eggs and whisk till fully incorporated. Add the vanilla and salt and combine. Add flour and fold till incorporated. Fold in chocolate chips or nuts.

Pour batter into pan and bake for 25-30 mins untl an inserted skewer comes out clean. Allow brownies to cool in the pan, then lift the foil to easily remove them before slicing. Cool completely before slicing to get perfect squares.

Serve warm with a dollop of ice cream or whipped cream or with warm chocolate sauce drizzled over...

** My Notes:
** I halved the original recipe and got 9 squares. The above recipe is what I used.
** I skipped the salt as I used salted butter.
** I skipped the walnuts too but I would insist adding them as the crunch from walnuts is necessary in a brownie.
** I skipped the vanilla extract too as I used Cadbury's cocoa powder which contains added vanilla flavorings.
** I used milk chocolate and hence reduced the sugar but if using dark chocolate add 1/2 cup sugar.
** I used 2 oz milk chocolate but halving the original recipe means u have to use 1 oz only. This amount yielded a super fudgy brownie so go by the original recipe if you want to.
** If you are using a small egg, then add an extra yolk.
** The batter itself was quite addictive and so I sliced the brownies before cooling them just to have a bite... and so the not-so-perfect squares. My advice wait till it cools, my suggestion DO NOT wait till it cools.

So thats it Folks...
With Love,

Signs off!!!