This recipe, from Trish Deseine’s Chocolate, is somewhat ambitiously titled “The Best Brownies”.
They’re very, very good, but I’m not sure they’re the best I’ve ever tasted. They are, however, one of the quickest to make, giving even the speedy Supernatural Brownies a run for their money. Better still, you could get away with using just one bowl if you were really feeling lazy…
- 90g (3oz) unsalted butter
- 120g (4oz) dark chocolate (I used Callebaut 811 54% this time, but they also work well with the Callebaut 70% dark)
- 2 large (59g) free range eggs, beaten
- 225g (8oz) white sugar
- 90g (3oz) plain (AP) flour
- 50g (2oz) hazelnut or almond meal (I used hazelnut this time)
1. Preheat oven to 180C (360F) or 160C (320F) with fan. Line a square 20cm (8″) baking pan with parchment paper, bringing the paper up the sides. Alternatively, simply grease the pan.
2. In a large pyrex bowl, melt the butter and chocolate together in the microwave using short bursts and stirring frequently. Allow to cool a little, then stir in the beaten eggs, working quickly to ensure they don’t curdle. Stir in the sugar, flour and hazelnut meal. (Told you it was easy!)
3. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and bake for approximately 30 minutes. Allow to cool in the pan before cutting and serving.
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
I will have to try making these so I can let you know if they’re the Best Brownies.. Maybe even a second batch.. just for scientific purposes of course;)
They’re very quick to make, so the scientific experiments shouldn’t take too long.. :)
Brownies that are sitting on the plate in front of you are always the best!
Some recipes are stand out- some easier- some more economical- but the brownie that comes fastest into your hand is the Best!!!!
Well, on that definition, these would be the best Heidi, as they are the fastest I’ve ever made! :)
Lovely. Wow. I wonder if this recipe will work as well using Half Sugar. (sigh)
Have you tried using any of the slow releasing sugars?
Is that like Stevia?
The brownie recipe I have uses maple syrup, rice syrup and raw or rapadura sugar.
I can send you the recipe if you would like to adapt it to Celia’s recipe
Thank you very much, but these sugars are best avoided when a person has diabetes. Thanks though!!
Would love to hear how you go, Misky!
Those are gorgeous! I’ve never heard of a hazelnut brownie, but these sound really delicious – why do people not make them more often? :D
Thanks Nick! They were dead easy to make too. :)
Always good to have a selection of brownie recipes at the ready. These look nice and crisp on the outside and gooey in the middle.
Thanks Sally! They didn’t last very long here! :)
Yuumy, love a good brownie. And hazelnuts are a firm favourite of mind. Thanks for sharing the recipe xox
Lizzy, I usually make them with almond meal, but the hazelnuts were a nice change! :)
What gorgeous looking brownies Celia and they look so moist. I’d be happy to try them to see if they really are the best! xx
Thanks Charlie! Please do try them and let me know what you think! :)
Yum Celia, these look so moist, more perfect cold weather food :)
Jane, hasn’t it been cold? I’m looking for any excuse to turn the oven on these days.. :)
Oh no they look dangerously easy, especially when I have all those ingredients in my kitchen. Yum!
Claire, they really are pantry brownies, aren’t they? We always have the ingredients on hand as well…
Oh my, I am going to have to try those. We have a local Amish store close by and I think I can get Hazelnut flour there. If not, I know I can get Almond flour. I am so going to make these!!! Thank you so much for posting this.
You’re most welcome, Sharon, thanks for stopping by! Hope you like these. If you can’t get the flour, the original recipe actually used crushed and toasted whole nuts.
I’m all for any brownie recipe that gets them from the bowl to me quickly, so I’ll be giving these a try. I’ve got some toasted ground almonds to use up so I’ll put them in – should add another interesting flavour. Thank you Celia – I can always rely upon you for chocolate. xxx
Amanda, the toasted ground almonds would be perfect – the original recipe specified “50g (2oz) hazelnuts or macadamia nuts, toasted and crushed, or pecan nuts, crushed”. I’ve mostly used just almond meal, through sheer laziness. :)
False advertising!! ;) haha they look pretty good though
Not false, Nic, maybe just a little bold. :)
Anything chocolate and hazelnut is a winner in my book!
Emilie, that’s so true! :)
Hi Celia, I love the combination of hazelnut and chocolate, (especially Whittaker’s) and they do sound very easy.
Glenda, hope you like these! I usually make them with a darker chocolate if I can, but these were very popular with the kids..
Have just whipped these up. Probably not the best ever brownie but oh so simple and very moist not to mention delicious. Thanks for this one Celia.
What do you think is the best ever brownie recipe?
That’s wonderful, thanks Glenda! :) Glad you liked them!
Our house opinion is that the chestnut flour brownies are the best we’ve ever tried, with the original flour version of the same brownies coming a close second…
https://figjamandlimecordial.com/2011/02/16/gluten-free-chestnut-brownies/
https://figjamandlimecordial.com/2010/07/05/fudge-brownies/
These might be the best ever. I’ll have to make them just to be sure :) They look wonderful.
Thanks Maureen…I’m always grateful for people to double check for me.. ;-)
Celia you must stop throwing out challenges like that! I will have to make batches of each of my favourite brownies just to taste test which one its in fact the bestest ever :)
Darling, it’s not my claim! But I will look forward to seeing how your taste tests come out.. :)
Gosh those look dreamy! Want! <3
Easy to make too, Maz! :)
All the wins!
Those are definitely a winner!
Thanks Greg! Wish I send a batch to your huge 4th July line-up.. :)
They look delicious Celia!
My grandmother just gave me my greatmother’s recipe for brownie. The sultana spiced version though not the chocolate kind. I’ll have to try it.
…Wonder what my great granny would think of your one? :-)
I’ve never heard of a brownie with sultanas, Brydie! Are you going to make them? Now why did I ask that, of course you are. :) Look forward to seeing them! x
Celia, since you’re unsure whether these are the best you have tasted I’ll just have to make a batch to see how good they are. On the weekend I made Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall’s ten minute choc-chip cookies which used part muscovado sugar giving a nice caramel undertone. I wonder how that might go in this recipe …..
Rose, I’m hooked on muscovado sugar! However, my baking friend Craig advised me that it has more moisture than regular brown sugar, so if we’re using it, we need to adjust accordingly. Makes sense, as I’ve had some doughs and batters end up extra soft when I’ve used it…
Hehe the best is definitely a big claim but one in which I am happy to sample and help test out. I had a monster craving for brownies the other night too! :P
Pete still thinks the chestnut brownies are better! :D
Yuuuuuuuuummmmmm… hazelnuts + chocolate = match made in heaven.
:)
It is a great combo, isn’t it? x
They look really fluffy and gorgeous. lets face it a slice of freshly baked brownies made with any recipe would be heaven
Tania, thank you! I wish I could say that, but my tribe are really fussy! :) These were very nice though..
A one bowl, quick recipe is perfect for a summertime dessert.
Or winter too, Karen! :) Hope you’ve had a lovely weekend by the water…
Brownies sitting in front of me are always the best… loved it!
Celia, I’ve been so far behind reading and commenting, but I know you understand – once my life gets back to “normal” I will hang out here and indulge a lot more
Sal, you are sooo busy at the moment, I’m grateful that you have time to pop in at all! Hope it all settles down for you soon… xxx
Wow! Those brownies are making my mouth water! They look delish!
Thanks for stopping by! These were very yummy! :)
[…] used pecan meal I found at the health food shop but you could use hazelnut meal like Celia does in the original recipe. This is the third time I’ve made these brownies and most definitely won’t be the last. […]