Chocolate Brownies Recipe

• 175 grams / 6 oz of butter
• 1 cup of chocolate chips or finely chopped chocolate
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla essence
• 1 tablespoon of instant coffee powder (optional)
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup of white sugar
• 1¼ cups of flour
• ½ cup of roughly chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
• ½ cup of raisins (optional)

Preheat the oven to 180°C, 350°F or gas mark 4. Grease a sponge roll tin or oblong baking dish. Using a double boiler or microwave, melt the chocolate. Melt the butter separately to avoid burning the chocolate. In a large bowl mix together the melted butter, chocolate, vanilla and coffee powder. Set the mixture aside until it is lukewarm. Whisk the eggs and sugar into the mixture. Sift in the flour and sprinkle over the raisins and nuts. Fold gently until the mixture is just combined. Pour into the greased dish and bake for 20 to 30 minutes until the brownie is cooked around the edges, but still soft in the middle. Cool and cut into squares. Sprinkle with icing sugar if desired.

(Makes 12 large brownies)