Most of you would know the love affair that I have with a good brownie. I also know a young girl who could possibly ‘pip me at the post’ with her adoration for the perfect brownie. This lovely girl usually comes to our home and shares afternoon tea with our children at the start of each week. On the day that she comes, they have all taken to chanting (very loudly, I might add) ‘BRROOOOWWWWNNIEEE’! I often question why I find myself whipping up a brownie, pre school pick up, in a mad rush on these particular days when it is all so busy (even without the brownie cook up!). The answer is simple. I truly do love cooking for people and I especially love cooking them the things that I know they will really truly love. Can you imagine the reaction I would get after their deafening ‘BRROOOOWWWWNNIEEE’ chant if I presented them with an empty brownie tin and just the fruit platter ? I’d be stoned! Of course, I do insist they eat the fruit platter also but then this often back fires with “I ate 3 pieces of fruit so does this mean I can now have 3 brownies”? !
Last week I risked the stoning. They like familiarity these kids. They all sat up at the bench & before they could let it rip with their deafening brownie call, I presented them with this platter (above). One of my daughters looked gob smacked and said “Ooohhh, that’s brave Mum! She’s here for her Monday brownie”.  So funny! After the initial shock and dismay, they added one of these foreign treats to their plates (poor deprived children aren’t they!). Silence….. chewing….. more silence and then finally….. their eyes took in each others and…..da-dah!  ……………Big smiles! Really big big big smiles!

I hardly dared to be that different. It was a version of a brownie after all but just that little bit different to the one they were all now fixated on. They had another… and another and then I was aksed by one of my own ” so does this mean I can skip the fruit platter today given these had raspberries in them”!  – Close my little friend but no cigar this time!

I wonder how many weeks I will find myself making these little treasures before I dare mix it up for them again?

Chocolate & Raspberry brownies

Makes 30 mini brownies

100g unsalted butter, roughly chopped
100g dark chocolate, roughly chopped
220g caster sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
110g plain flour
½ teaspoon of baking powder
25g cocoa powder
100g frozen raspberries
100g dark chocolate, cut in chunks
Icing sugar to dust / serve

Preheat the oven to 160o C. Grease your mini muffin trays.

Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat and then add the chocolate. Stir continuosly until the chocolate has melted and combined with the butter. Set aside to cool.

Place sugar, eggs and vanilla in a large mixing bowl and mix with a wooden spoon. Stir in the cooled chocolate mixture. Grab a metal spoon now and gently fold in the flour, baking powder, cocoa, raspberries and chocolate chunks. You need to use a folding action here rather than to stir.

Spoon the mixture in to the mini muffin holes until about ¾ full. Try to make them all fairly even in size. Bake for approximately 18-20 minutes, or until just set when the top is pressed lightly. The brownies will still be a little bit wobbly. This is okay. The melted chocolate will set and firm as the brownie cools. Leave in muffin tins for 10-15 minutes and then place on a wire rack. Dust with icing sugar, to serve.

Please note, frozen raspberries are definitely best here as fresh will go end up a little mushy.

I’d so love to hear what you think of these. Give them a go at home. They are definitely just that little bit addictive! Enjoy!