Rich Black Forest Brownies Food

BLACK FOREST BROWNIES

Steps:

• Grease a 30 x 20cm cake tin and line with parchment. Heat oven to 180C/ 160C fan/gas 4. Mix the coffee with 2 tbsp boiling water, then set aside to cool.
• Cream the butter and sugar together for about 5 mins until light and fluffy, then add the eggs, one at a time, incorporating well after each addition. In a separate bowl, combine the cocoa powder and the flour. Add in the cherry essence and cooled coffee to the butter mixture, followed by the dry ingredients. Mix well, then fold in the cherries.
• Spoon into the prepared tin, level the top with the back of a spoon and bake in the centre of the oven for 30-35 mins or until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Leave to cool completely in the tin.
• Once cool, melt the dark chocolate in the microwave or over a pan of simmering water, then spread in an even layer over the top of the brownies.
• While the chocolate is setting, mix the butter with the icing sugar and a few drops of green food colouring. Put the buttercream in a piping bag fitted with a writing tip nozzle. Cut the brownies into 20 squares, place two glacé cherry halves on top of each one and use the buttercream to create the cherry stem.

BLACK FOREST BROWNIES

Steps:

• In a microwave-safe bowl, melt butter; stir in cocoa until smooth. Cool slightly. In a large bowl, beat eggs and sugar. Stir in extracts and chocolate mixture. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to chocolate mixture. Stir in cherries and nuts. Pour into a greased 13x9-in. baking pan., Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean (do not overbake)., Meanwhile, for icing, in a large bowl, combine the butter, confectioners' sugar, cocoa, milk and vanilla until smooth; spread over hot brownies. Sprinkle with nuts. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars.

BLACK FOREST SUNDAES WITH BROWNIES

Steps:

• For the ice cream, pour the cream into a pan and bring to the boil. Beat together the sugar, egg yolks and vanilla. Pour over 2 tbsp of the cream and whisk into the egg mixture. Pour the egg mixture into the pan with the cream, lower the heat, then cook for a few mins, stirring continuously with a wooden spoon, until the custard coats the back of the spoon.
• Melt the chocolate in the microwave on High for 1 min, then stir into the bowl of custard. When the custard has cooled, churn in an ice-cream maker according to manufacturers' instructions.
• To make the sauce, drain the cherries, reserving the liquid, then set aside. Place the liquid in a pan with the kirsch or brandy and simmer for 5 mins, or until syrupy. Return the cherries to the pan to heat through.
• To assemble the sundaes, whip the cream with the icing sugar until soft peaks form. Cut the brownies into bite-size pieces, then place a handful at the bottom of 4 glasses. Scoop the ice cream on top, then drizzle with the cherries and sauce. Dollop with whipped cream and scatter with grated chocolate.
• FOR THE BROWNIES: Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4, then grease and line a 20cm square brownie tin. Heat the butter and dark chocolate in a pan until melted. Stir through dark brown sugar and granulated sugar. Leave to cool for 5 mins, then mix through the eggs. Stir in the almonds and flour. Pour into the tin, then bake for 30-35 mins until just cooked through. (Makes 16)