Double Dark Chocolate Brownies

If you LOVE dark chocolate, this is the brownie for you!! 

Double Dark Chocolate Brownies

This is my husband's all time favourite brownie which I have tweaked over the years until he said it was better than any other one he'd ever tasted, and would request this on a regular basis. I have adapted it from an old school Women's Weekly Mocha Brownie Recipe. I've been making this for years, pre-Thermomix days, being one of the most regularly baked item in my house! 

This is amazing served warm with oozing melted chocolate by itself or with icecream, however my husband loves this in bite sized pieces in the fridge with each bite with a bit of brownie and a bit of hard crunchy chocolate!

My Milo Brownies were a twist on a traditional brownie, however this brownie is so indulgent, it is the hard core stuff that you would get at your local bakery/cafe!

This brownie has chocolate in the brownie mixture, plus extra chocolate bits stirred through.  I use 100 grams Cadbury Old Gold 70% Cocoa for some of the chocolate bits as my husband loves his dark chocolate a little bitter, and I mix it with 50 grams dark chocolate chips (I use either the Costco Kirkland brand, or Nestle Dark Chocolate Bits).

DOUBLE DARK CHOCOLATE BROWNIES

Ingredients:

150 grams dark chocolate (chocolate chips or a block broken into squares)

180 grams butter

250 grams dark chocolate

150 grams sugar

3 eggs

230 grams plain flour

Method (Thermomix):

1. Preheat oven to 170 degrees.

2. Place a small bowl on top of the Thermomix lid and weigh out 150 grams dark chocolate. Set aside.

3. Add butter and dark chocolate to bowl - melt 2 minutes/50 degrees/Speed 2. Scrape down. 

4. Melt a further 1 minute/50 degrees/Speed 2 (you may need to melt a further minute or 2 if you are using larger chunks/chips of chocolate).

5. Add sugar - mix 5 seconds/Speed 5. Scrape down.

6. Set for 1 minute/Speed 2 - add eggs 1 at a time through the MC hole throughout this minute.

7. Add flour - mix 10 seconds/Speed 5.

8. Add chocolate squares/chips - mix 10 seconds/Speed 3/Reverse.

9. Pour mixture into square baking pan and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until firm. Wait to cool before cutting into squares. 

Method (Non Thermomix):

1. Preheat oven to 170 degrees.

2. In a small bowl, weigh out 150 grams dark chocolate. Set aside.

3. Melt butter and chocolate in a pan over low heat, stir until smooth.

4. Remove from heat, and stir in sugar.

5. Stir in eggs 1 at a time.

6. Stir in sifted flour.

7. Stir through set aside chocolate squares/chips.

8. Pour mixture into square baking pan.

9. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until firm. Wait to cool before cutting into squares.

Place a small bowl on top of the Thermomix lid and weigh out 150 grams dark chocolate. Set aside.

Add butter and dark chocolate to bowl

Melt 2 minutes/50 degrees/Speed 2. Scrape down. 

Melt a further 1 minute/50 degrees/Speed 2 (you may need to melt a further minute or 2 if you are using larger chunks/chips of chocolate)

Add sugar - mix 5 seconds/Speed 5. Scrape down

Set for 1 minute/Speed 2 - add eggs 1 at a time through the MC hole throughout this minute

Add flour - mix 10 seconds/Speed 5

Add chocolate squares/chips - mix 10 seconds/Speed 3/Reverse

Pour mixture into square baking pan and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until firm

Wait to cool before cutting into squares

Dust with icing sugar to serve

Golden Gaytime Bliss Balls

This is a variation of the Healthy Golden Gaytime Easter Eggs. This time using blitzed up dark chocolate to roll them in for a little chocolate hit! You can use cocoa/cacoa powder or drinking chocolate to roll them in instead, however I like the blitzed chocolate for some texture!

This is most definitely the BEST bliss ball I've ever eaten - I ate a few before it even hit the fridge!! #nomnomnom

Golden Gaytime Bliss Balls

GOLDEN GAYTIME BLISS BALLS

Ingredients:

50 grams dark chocolate

100 grams oats

150 grams medjool dates (pitted)

10 grams chia seeds

2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste

10 grams maple syrup

40 grams coconut oil

25 grams rice bubbles/puffed rice

Method (Thermomix):

1. Add the dark chocolate to the bowl - blitz 10 seconds/speed 7. Set aside.

2. Add the oats, dates, chia seeds, vanilla, maple syrup and coconut oil - mix 15 seconds/Speed 8.

3. Add the rice bubbles - mix 15 seconds/Speed 2/Reverse.

4. Use a teaspoon to measure out a spoonful of mixture and roll/shape into an ball shape (make sure to get excess rice bubbles from the bottom of the bowl so that you get an even mixture)

5. Roll the ball in the set aside dark chocolate and place in fridge to set for at least an hour.

Method (Blender/Food Processor):

1. Add the dark chocolate and blitz until fine. Set aside.

2. Add the oats, dates, chia seeds, vanilla, maple syrup and coconut oil - mix until all the ingredients are combined.

3. Add the rice bubbles and do a quick turbo mix, you may need to further mix with a spoon/spatula - try not to blend it too much as you may lose the rice bubble crunch!

4. Use a spoon to measure out a spoonful of mixture and roll/shape into an ball shape (make sure to get excess rice bubbles from the bottom of the bowl so that you get an even mixture)

5. Roll the ball in the set aside dark chocolate and place in fridge to set for at least an hour.

Add 50g dark chocolate 

Blitz 10 seconds/Speed 7

Add the oats, dates, chia seeds, vanilla, maple syrup and coconut oil - mix 15 seconds/Speed 8.

Add the rice bubbles - mix 15 seconds/Speed 2/Reverse

Use a teaspoon to measure out a spoonful of mixture and roll/shape into an ball shape (make sure to get excess rice bubbles from the bottom of the bowl so that you get an even mixture)

Roll the ball in the set aside dark chocolate

Place in fridge to set for at least an hour (if they make it to the fridge!!)

*****If you love Bliss Balls, try these other recipes:

Ferrero Rocher Bliss Balls

Apple Pie Bliss Balls

Hot Chocolate (with Real Chocolate!)

With HEAPS of leftover Easter eggs, and with the chilly Autumn nights, this hits the spot!

You can create different flavour combos with diff chocolates - dark, milk, white, caramel, choc-mint, bounty, cherry ripe, toblerone...the options are endless!!

Hot Chocolate (with Real Chocolate!)

You could blitz the chocolate first, however I love my hot chocolates at night (when the boys are sleeping!) and blitzing chocolate in the Thermomix gives the most offensive noise so I rather not!! I find that Speed 2 is the max I can go without the mixing being too loud! The chocolate will mix through in the 5 minutes with the heat and milk - if you're making a bigger batch, and you can still see chocolate bits after the 5 minutes, just add an extra minute or so to the time :) 

HOT CHOCOLATE (with Real Chocolate!)

One serve

Ingredients:

50 grams chocolate (of your choice!)
250 grams milk (of your choice!)

Method:

1. Add all ingredients to the bowl - mix 5 minutes/80 degrees/Speed 2.
2. For froth: mix 5 seconds progressively increasing the speed up to Speed 7.

Note: you can double/triple/quadruple this recipe

Add 50 grams chocolate (per serve)

Add 250 grams milk (per serve)

Mix 5 minutes/80 degrees/Speed 2

For froth: mix 5 seconds progressively increasing the speed up to Speed 7.

Dust with cocoa/drinking chocolate to serve

Milo Parfait

A combination of my 20 Second Milo Brownies and Milo Mousse recipe (which are both very EASY recipes, to create a very very EASY and impressive dessert! #sorrynotsorry ! ;)

Milo Parfait

The creaminess of the Milo Mousse with the crunch of the chocolate chips is a great balance with the chewy fudginess of the 20 Second Milo Brownies.

Both of these components can be made a day or 2 beforehand, and assembly is SO quick and easy before any dinner party or event...or an indulgent easy dessert to enjoy in front of the TV :)

Milo Mousse:
http://thermotwinning.blogspot.com.au/2015/09/milo-mousse.html

20 Second Milo Brownies:
http://thermotwinning.blogspot.com.au/2016/04/20-second-milo-brownies.html

Just alternate between spoonfuls of Milo Mousse and broken up Milo Brownies in a wine glass to create layers of Milo goodness!! ENJOY!!!

Healthy Golden Gaytime Easter Eggs (NF)

These are healthy nut free and refined sugar free Easter eggs which are a great alternative to the traditional chocolate Easter eggs, great for the whole family!!!! They are great for the Easter egg hunt, Easter presents for both kids at school and for adults, and are a perfect kids in the kitchen activity!

 

 

Healthy Golden Gaytime Easter Eggs (NF)

 

I've been working on a healthy Golden Gaytime for my husband as that is his No. 1 icecream flavour (I have been making him a Golden Gaytime Icecream Cake for his birthday every year - http://thermotwinning.blogspot.com.au/2015/07/golden-gaytime-icecream-cake.html)

 

I have made this nut free so it is lunch box friendly. The rice bubbles for the Golden Gaytime 'crunch', vanilla bean paste and maple syrup to get the caramel flavour, and cocoa powder for the chocolate. These are DELICIOUS!!!!!!!!!

Note that the cocoa/cacoa powder is quite bitter which goes really well with the sweet 'egg' part and together makes it taste like it had a hint of dark chocolate. If the bitterness bothers you, you could coat in a drinking chocolate (with added sugar), blitzed up choc chips, dessicated coconut or leave it coating free :)

 

To wrap them up into 'Easter Eggs', I used the cheapest aluminium foil I could find from Coles, as it is nice and thin - the stuff I normally use from Costco is a lot thicker and doesn't wrap as nicely around the egg shape (Coles Smartbuy foil - about $1.10 for 10m - bargain!), and I bought a $2 pack of 100 Easter stickers from the reject shop.

 

HEALTHY GOLDEN GAYTIME EASTER EGGS

 

Ingredients:

 

100 grams oats

160 grams medjool dates (pitted)

10 grams chia seeds

2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste

10 grams maple syrup

40 grams coconut oil

25 grams rice bubbles/puffed rice

Cacoa or cocoa powder to roll eggs in

 

Method (Thermomix):

 

1. Add the oats, dates, chia seeds, vanilla, maple syrup and coconut oil.

2. Mix 15 seconds/Speed 8.

3. Add the rice bubbles and mix 15 seconds/Speed 2/Reverse.

4. Use a spoon to measure out a spoonful of mixture and roll/shape into an egg shape (make sure to get excess rice bubbles from the bottom of the bowl so that you get an even mixture)

5. Roll the egg in cacoa/cocoa powder and place in fridge to set for at least an hour.

6. Once the egg's have firmed up, wrap in pieces of aluminium foil and decorate with Easter stickers (optional). You can wrap with aluminium foil straight after making them, but I find it easier once they have firmed up.

 

Method (Blender/Food Processor):

 

1. Add the oats, dates, chia seeds, vanilla, maple syrup and coconut oil.

2. Mix until all the ingredients are combined.

3. Add the rice bubbles and do a quick turbo mix, you may need to further mix with a spoon/spatula - try not to blend it too much as you may lose the rice bubble crunch!

4. Use a spoon to measure out a spoonful of mixture and roll/shape into an egg shape (make sure to get excess rice bubbles from the bottom of the bowl so that you get an even mixture)

5. Roll the egg in cacoa/cocoa powder and place in fridge to set for at least an hour.

6. Once the egg's have firmed up, wrap in pieces of aluminium foil and decorate with Easter stickers (optional). You can wrap with aluminium foil straight after making them, but I find it easier once they have firmed up.

 

You can make these as bliss balls (when it's not Easter) for healthy Golden Gaytime treats! You can also use my other bliss ball recipes and roll them into an egg shape like this too! However, the taste and crunch in these Healthy Golden Gaytime Easter Eggs will definitely be a winner with the kids!!!

 

 

Add all ingredients (except for rice bubbles) in bowl

 

 

Mix 15 seconds/Speed 8

 

 

Add rice bubbles

 

 

Mix 15 seconds/Speed 2/Reverse

 

 

Spoon out a tablespoon of mixture

 

 

And shape/roll/press into an egg shape

 

 

Roll in cacoa/cocoa powder

 

 

Place in fridge to firm up for at least 1 hour

 

 

Cut small squares of cheap aluminium foil

 

 

 

Wrap Egg inside the foil and press the foil around the shape so it's nice and firm

 

 

Press foil around the egg

 

 

Secure the end of the foil with stickers and decorate with more stickers :)

 

 

Repeat the above for all of the eggs

 

 

Enjoy giving them for presents, eating at home, or using them for a healthy Easter Egg hunt!! Check out Ethan and Harley with their first (practice) Easter Egg hunt:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ferrero Rocher Bliss Balls

Believe it or not, but these are the first ever bliss balls I've ever made! My husband is getting back into the gym and body building now that the boys are a bit older, and wanted some healthy protein packed snacks! He also is a sucker for Ferrero Rocher Chocolates, so I thought I would make him a healthier version!

Ferrero Rocher Bliss Balls

FERRERO ROCHER BLISS BALLS

Ingredients:

• 150 grams hazelnuts
• 20 grams oats
• 20 grams ground LSA (linseed, sunflower, almond)
• 10 grams chia seeds
• 10 grams cacao powder/cocoa
• 190 grams medjool dates (pitted)
• 30 grams coconut oil

Method (Thermomix):

1. Add all the above ingredients into your bowl.

2. Blitz 40 Seconds/Speed 4. I wanted to have some chunky bits of hazelnuts for texture, like the outside of Ferrero Rocher chocolates, however if you wish to have a finer texture, blitz on Turbo a few times until desired consistency.

3. With damp hands, use a metal tablespoon to measure out the crumb-like texture, squeeze the mixture in your hand and shape into a ball.

4. Place in fridge to set.

Method (Blender):

1. Add all the above ingredients into your bowl.

2. Blitz on the highest setting until all of the ingredients have combined to your desired consistency.

 3. With damp hands, use a metal tablespoon to measure out the crumb-like texture, squeeze the mixture in your hand and shape into a ball.

4. Place in fridge to set.

Note: Medjool dates differ in dryness, so you may need to add 5 - 10 grams more coconut oil if the mixture comes out dry, or add 5 - 10 grams more 'dry' ingredients (oats, LSA, chia seeds) if the mixture comes out too sticky to shape into the balls.

Add all ingredients into your bowl

Blitz until desired consistency (I prefer it with some chunky hazelnut bits)

Use a metal tablespoon to measure out mixture

Squeeze the mixture together with damp hands

..and shape into a ball!

  

Enjoy these guilt free Ferrero Rocher Bliss Balls!

Note that LSA is a blend of Linseeds, Sunflower Seeds and Almond. You can buy it in the organic/health food section of Woolies/Coles or a Health Food Store or you can blend it up yourself! Here is a link to read more about it! http://healthyblenderrecipes.com/recipes/home_made_lsa_-_linseeds_sunflower_seeds_almonds 

*****If you love Bliss Balls, try these other recipes:

Apple Pie Bliss Balls

Golden Gaytime Bliss Balls