Chuck anything in Chocolate Brownies

Despite what you say beforehand a lot changes when you have kids. You and up doing all sorts of things you never thought you would.

I never thought I’d mentally switch off when my child asks a question but after the 835th time of being asked “why did Mr toad scare the rabbits?” I said nothing and silently vowed that we would never again have Peter Rabbit on.

I never thought I’d wear crocs but after looking out the window and seeing my 1 year old pick up a snail and slowly bring it towards her mouth I threw on the pair of shoes next to my mother’s patio doors and ran..

I never thought I’d find Michael McIntyre funny but…Literally. So. Relatable.

One thing that never changed is my love of chocolate. These chocolate brownies are very fudgey and gooey in texture with a slight crust which we find perfect however if you prefer a cakey brownie you’ll want to decrease the sugar by about 50g and up the flour by the same.

We say Chuck anything in because the below is a basic batter that will carry anything pretty well. We have made these with strawberries, marshmallow, custard creams! Even if you have half a bag of Haribo and some leftover bounty from a tin of celebrations Chuck them in. It will work trust me 😉

You will need a 12″ by 9″ cake pan or roasting tray, lined with baking paper.

Ingredients

200g melted butter
300g sugar
70g plain flour
50g cocoa powder
3 eggs
150g milk chocolate (for a more grown up flavour use dark chocolate)
Odd bits of chocolate/fruit/sweets/biscuits

Preheat the oven to 160°C/ gas mark 3

Break the milk chocolate into pieces and melt in a microwave safe bowl using short bursts or 10-20 seconds, stirring well in between.

Get your giant toddler friendly mixing bowl (any bowl will do) and mix your melteed butter and sugar together until well combined.

Pop your eggs in and mix. Then add your flour, sugar and cocoa powder and melted chocolate. When nice and chocolatey mix in your miscellaneous bits. This is when your child will start picking lumps of chocolate or marshmallows out of the bowl and end up with chocolate batter up both arms. Maybe get a towel out ready?

Pour into your lined tin and bake for apx 30 minutes or until crusted over completely on top and cracking!

If you can wait for them to cool before cutting it is helpful as they’ll keep shape but if you do want to tuck in with a fork while still hot from the oven I will not judge 😊