So moist cocoa Brownies

I declare here and now that this was the last guilty pleasure I had for at least a week. I cannot let my little inner voice convince me that simple baking will not lead to weight gaining! Yes yes yes, it does. Even if I use whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose and reduce the sugar and so on... What was I even thinking making some killer brownies on a Monday?? But before, it really did seem like the best idea ever. And my Grandpa is here, visiting, never had brownies before so I have a pretty good excuse, right?
Ah! Oh well...I can say, it was so worth it!! This recipe makes the perfect brownies! Seriously! I actually had my go-to brownies recipe which is still my number one but I can't really compare the 2. The other one is with chocolate, LOTSa chocolate and I never let it fully bake so it's the mixture of a soufle and a brownies. But THIS one is what everyone calls brownies. Moist, gooey, rich and definitely not dry or resemble to a cake. I highly recommend it! Also, I kinda forgot that I was making it with dutch cocoa which is sugar-free and when I saw how much sugar I had to add, I freaked out a little and added 80 grams less than the recipe indicated. So the result wasn't too sweet, it was perfect for my tastebuds but I don't like too sweet things. Oh and I poured just a drop of chocolate sauce on it...We like it like this :)

Without the ganache and strawberries

Cocoa Brownies

10 tablespoons (141 grams) unsalted butter

1 1/4 cups (280 grams) sugar
 I used 200 grams
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons (82 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

2 large eggs, cold

1/2 cup (66 grams) all-purpose flour I used whole wheat spelt flour
2/3 cup walnut or pecan pieces  I used hazelnuts, toasted

Preheat oven to 165°C (325°F). Line the bottom and sides of an 8×8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper or foil, leaving an overhang on two opposite sides.


Combine the butter, sugar, cocoa, and salt in a medium heatproof bowl and microwave for 1:30 minutes. Remove and stir until the butter is melted and the mixture is smooth. Set aside briefly until the mixture is only warm, not hot. It looks fairly gritty at this point, but don’t fret — it smoothes out once the eggs and flour are added.

 Stir in the vanilla with a wooden spoon. Add the eggs one at a time, stirring vigorously after each one. When the batter looks thick, shiny, and well blended, add the flour and stir until you cannot see it any longer, then beat vigorously for 40 strokes with the wooden spoon or a rubber spatula. Stir in the nuts, if using. Spread evenly in the lined pan.


Bake until a toothpick plunged into the center emerges slightly moist with batter, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool completely on a rack.

Chocolate ganache (or sauce)

1dl double creme
100 grams chocolate
4 dkg butter

Bring the creme to a boil and remove it from the heat and place the chopped chocolate in it. Stir it until it comes together and then add the butter. Keep stirring and put it in the fridge to cool down.

Enjoy :)