Have you ever wanted a Brownie recipe that was reliable, easy, and gooey?

Well, here there will be no need for seances or a dangerous midnight stroll to gather your spooky ingredients, this ancient (and secret)recipe is my free gift to you, ready for your own Halloween feast. This Brownie spell is simple, easy to put together, and will make you look like a complete sorcerer in the kitchen. Not only that but it really is foolproof – any wizard can do it! There are just 7 easy steps to success and the hardest one comes last!

Shall we get conjuring?

Lets bring this mystery to light and when you’re ready, perhaps pop on a chef/witches hat, an apron of your choice, and some decent background music and let’s begin ……………………

Prep Time – 10 minutes (less time than it takes for a spirit to appear!)

Bake time – 25-30 – 33 minutes

Quantity –  9-12 Squares (enough for a small gathering of ghouls!) * Just simply double ingredients for a larger batch if you need more – Using a 9×9 inch tray for the 12 squares (lined with baking parchment) or a special Brownie tray. Doubled – Us a 9×13 inch tray(resulting in 20 slightly thinner brownies) Or make the double batch then use 2 trays or Brownie Tins. Metal tins are better than glass as they conduct the heat better, you’ll know this though; being a wizard in the kitchen!

Ingredients (The Ancient elements)

• Unsalted Butter – 250g or 1 whole packet
• Granulated Sugar – 420g
• Eggs – 4 large – room temperature
• Plain Flour – 100g
• Cocoa Powder (to keep things dark) – 65g
• A pinch of Salt
• Chocolate chunks/chips (the cooking ones – from the cooking dept in the shop) – 1 whole pack = 100g
• Vanilla Essence/extract – 2 teaspoons —— and that’s it – An Easy-Peasy Cooking Spell!

Method (Casting the Spell) 7 Easy Steps to Success

1. Prepare the ritual – Preheat the oven to 180 C (160 C fan) if you’re conjuring with electricity, but if using Gas go to 350°F or Gas mark 4, and reduce by 20 if using a fan.
2. Line your baking tins with baking parchment – either 1 or 2 tins depending on how much you are making (see above)
3. The Melting Pot – Put the whole packet of butter in a microwavable dish and on a gentle setting and melt completely (say 30-40 seconds) If using a flame or hob pop on a low heat then heat in a saucepan until melted.
4. The Binding Spell – Now add all the sugar to the melted butter and and whisk with an electric whisk for 2 minutes or until the sugar granules begin to feel fine between your thumb and forefinger, this may take an extra 1 minute (magic is happening here; this is what gives your brownies a crinkly top once cooked)But be sure not to over-whisk. If you are doing all this by hand – it might be better to use Caster Sugar instead.
5.  The Union – When the butter and the sugar look nice and pale and slightly fluffy, it’s time to add the eggs, all at once just crack them in, now whisk for another 1 minute.
6. The Earth elements – Okay so you’re doing very well so far with this trickery! – and your’e nearly ready to finalise this delicious spell-binding recipe – so now add the rest of your ingredients to the butter, sugar and egg mixture – just sieve in the cocoa powder, flour, pinch of salt, whole packet of chocolate drops and splash in the vanilla essence! Mix gently (do not over beat or you will finish up with a broken spell) with a spatula until no white streaks of flour can be seen. DONE! – Well, Almost, there’s always more to these spells than you think!

The Offering – and nearly at step 7 and the hardest part

Now is the time to pour your wonderful, dark, thick, gooey mess into your ready and waiting baking tray, gently smooth over the top until the mixture meets the sides, and pop in your oven (a cauldron just won’t work for this gooey treat).

The Near Final Resting Place – Bake for 25 minutes. The edges should be set after this time and the centre of this – should still have a slight wobble – if it looks just a bit too wobbly pop back in the oven for another 5 minutes, and for larger bakes,(so using the double mixture in a bigger tin) pop back for another 3 minutes if mixture seems too wobbly in the middle – but that should do it – otherwise this fudgy delight just won’t be gooey enough inside.

The Final Rest and step 7 – Let your Brownie – cool in the tin for at least 2 hours before cutting into your desired amount of squares. This is the hardest part of this Brownie spell and one you’ll feel compelled to take no notice of – but try not to break the spell and be tempted by “just a bit” to try – because if you do – You WILL be seen!

Obviously the fun part (if you haven’t eaten them all already) is the decorating bit. Go wild with melted chocolate, of-the-self custom decorations (in the baking aisle), marshmallows, coloured chocolate sprinkles, buttons, drops, the list is endless. And as you know Brownies are not just for Halloween, the frostings and toppings can be adjusted throughout the year for lots of seasonal celebrations as well as a tasty ‘anytime’ treat, and this simple recipe covers that too.

But this Halloween as you light your pumpkin and listen to whispers of history, be sure to have a warm, dark, mysterious Brownie to hand. It’s a perfect modern treat to sharing an offering with those we hold dear, and the best way to celebrate a Samhain Brownie Spell!