Sticky Chocolate Brownies

Yummy is all I can say about the recipe that follows. I am actually as you all know a cupcake makers, but I believe I’m not to shabby in other areas in the kitchen. These brownies are very renowned in my circle of friends, so I decided to share them with you all.

The only warning I give with these brownies...is that you must love chocolate, and lots of it, and butter, sugar.

8 big brownies/ 12-15 smaller brownies

170g                butter

280g                castor sugar

200g                brown sugar

125g                plain chocolate

125g                dark chocolate

2tbsp               golden syrup

4                      eggs

2tsp                 vanilla extract

200g                flour

2tbsp               cocoa powder

1tsp                 baking powder

250g                pecan nuts (chopped)

pinch of salt

Pre heat oven to 180 °C.

Place butter and both chocolates in pan and melt.

Slowly add sugars and the syrup until the mixture become s smooth.

Remove form heat and allow to cool.

Beat eggs and vanilla together.

Whisk into cooled chocolate, sugar and butter mixture.

Sift flour, cocoa, salt and baking powder.

Fold carefully into the chocolate, sugar, butter, egg and vanilla mixture.

Fold the pecan nuts into the mixtures

Spoon mixture into a lined/greased pan.

Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the top is crispy and the edges start to shrink away from the sides.

The inside of the cake will be soft and gooey and soft to touch.

Place extra chopped pecan nuts on top of the brownies.

Leave the brownies to cool completely. Cut into squares.

Dreamy Oreo Cupcakes

Cupcakes (12-15 medium sized)

Ingredients:

1 cup               buttercream

½ cup              cocoa

1 ½ cup            flour

1tsp                 baking soda

¼ tsp               baking powder

125 g               butter

1 cup               white sugar

2                     eggs

½ tsp               vanilla extract

1 cup               dark chocolate chips

12-15               oreo cookies

pinch of salt

Pre heat oven to 180 °C.

Sift together flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt.

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy in a separate bowl.

Add vanilla extract and eggs (one at a time) mixing well after each addition.

Add the flour mixture slowly.

Beat on medium until the batter appears light and fluffy.

Fold in dark chocolate chips.

Place a oreo cookie at the bottom of each cupcake liner.

Scoop mixture into cupcake liners about 2/3 full.

Bake for 18-20 minutes. Check with a toothpick/stick at 18 minutes. If it comes out clean, remove cupcakes.

Allow to cool for 5 minutes.

Allow to cool completely before frosting.

Frosting:

250g                cream cheese

125 g               white butter

2 cups              icing sugar (sifted)

8-12                 oreo cookies

In a food processor, puree strawberries.

Beat the salt, butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy.

Slowly add icing sugar.

Beat until well combined.

Crush the oreo cookies, fold into the cream cheese icing.

Decorations:

12-15              mini oreo cookies

            oreo cookies

Place each small oreo cookies ontop of cupcakes. If you can’t find mini one’s just cut large ones in half and place them ontop.

C is for cookie...

For a while I have just been filling my cupcakes with exciting surprises. Mmm these were definitely a hit, but I wanted to move on, go on another adventure. And I thought to myself, cookies have always been the second love in my eating world...hehehe! And who can forget the cookie monster...nom nom nom! And the there are sooooo many different cookies out there, chocolate chip, strawberry creams, wafers...the list goes on and on.

Anyway so the cookie cupcake fad has started. And to kick it off, the most delicious, creamiest, dreamiest, always enjoyed with a glass of milk cookies I can think of, OREOS! My word, I think the only way to describe these cupcakes are: orgasmic! (Someone actually said that...hehehe!) I have made numerous cupcakes and these are really standing out for me at this point. And to play with a different food type that you wouldn’t expect in a cupcake was great. That why I always say: have some fun, create, make, bake! So keep to those words, and get baking in those kitchens of yours.