3 min read

Cranberry and Orange Brownies

Surely everyone agrees that brownies are just divine! It's just impossible to not like them right? I don't mind if you're a cakey brownie lover or a gooey brownie lover but you must be one of them at least. These brownies are my go to recipe because they are so quick to make and can be adapted so easily by adding different fruits or nuts etc. This is also a lovely, fudgy, gooey recipe but if you prefer a cakey brownie you can just cook these slightly longer and you're all set.

Because this is the festive season, I have also added a few ingredients to the classic brownie to get us in the spirit. Classic cranberries and orange are ingredients go so well together they might as well be a match made in heaven.

Making the brownie requires a few extra steps than some of my previous recipes but it is totally worth it.

Defrosting the cranberries: I use frozen cranberries because they provide a better texture in the resulting brownie which is convenient because it is very difficult to find fresh ones in the UK.

Melting the butter and chocolate: you want to melt the butter and chocolate just above room temperature. This way it should be nice and silky whilst not cooking the eggs too much once added.

Mixing it all together: when you mix in the flour and cranberries at the end, you don't want to over mix. Firstly, overmixing can make your brownies a little tough and it will also make more liquid escape from the cranberries. The liquid from the cranberries might give you an uneven texture if there is too much. To avoid this, just mix until there are no more lumps of flour and you should be all good.

Baking the brownie: if you prefer your brownies less gooey and more cakey, then just leave the brownies in the oven for an extra 5 minutes.

Storage: keep these brownies in an airtight container. They are best eaten in 2-3 days but if you don't think you can get through them in time you can freeze them for 1 month. Just wrap them in cling film and then place into an airtight container first. To defrost, place one in the microwave for 25 seconds. Add another 10 seconds if it is still cold in the middle.

Health Fact: Cranberries have a high nutrient and antioxidant content and this is the reason why they are often considered a superfood. They have also been linked to improved immune function and blood pressure reduction.

Health Fact: Oranges are well known for having a high vitamin C content. As well as this, oranges are also a good source of potassium. Both of these help improve your immune system and can reduce your risk of heart disease.

Health Fact: Dark chocolate is full of antioxidants which can help prevent heart problems, boost your mood and help with weight loss. Sadly, milk and white chocolate do not count here as they don't have a lot of cocoa solids left in them.

Cranberry and Orange Brownies

Prep time

10-15 minutes

Cook time

25 minutes

Makes

What you need

Cranberry and Orange Brownies ingredients

250g Light brown sugar

3 Eggs

180g Dark Chocolate

170g Salted butter

90g Frozen cranberries

Zest of 1 Orange

170g Plain flour

Icing sugar (optional)

Preheat oven to 200C/180C fan/ Grease and line a deep 7x9 inch dish.

Defrost the cranberries by placing in a microwave for 30 seconds. Remove any juices that may come out and then set aside for later.

Melt butter and chocolate together in a microwave in 30 second bursts, stirring in between each intermission. Once melted, set aside for later use (but make sure it doesn't set).

In a separate bowl, mix the eggs and sugar together until just combined.

Add the melted chocolate and butter to the eggs and sugar. Mix until smooth.

Add the cranberries, orange zest and flour and mix until just combined.

Pour into the prepared dish and bake for 25 minutes, there will still be a slight wobble in the middle. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely in the dish

Once it has cooled completely, remove from the dish and cut into 12 equal pieces. Decorate by sieving icing sugar over the top of the brownies and enjoy!

Enjoy them either on their own or warmed up with some ice cream.