Small brownie cakes are a great one-bite dessert that's perfect for a party. To make small brownies, you will need to make a chocolate brownie batter. After baking, the brownies must be cut into small squares, cooled and dipped in chocolate. Sprinkle them with confectionery sprinkles, nuts, or other confectionery decorations if desired.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 225 g dark chocolate, coarsely chopped
- 1 and 1/4 cups sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup flour
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 230 ml dark chocolate
- Nuts, confectionery sprinkles and any other decorative elements (optional)
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Make the dough
Step 1. Melt the butter and chocolate
Melt the chocolate and butter on the stove over medium-high heat. Use a heavy-bottomed saucepan for this. Watch the process carefully so that the chocolate and butter do not burn.
- Remove the pan from the heat when the butter and chocolate are still firm. If all the chocolate has melted and a small piece of butter remains, remove the pan from the heat. Stir well to melt the butter completely.
- When the butter and chocolate have melted, leave the mixture to cool to room temperature. This usually takes about 15 minutes.
Step 2. Add sugar
When the butter and chocolate have cooled, add sugar to the mixture and mix thoroughly. Stir until you have a smooth mixture.
Step 3. Drive eggs into the chocolate mixture and add the vanilla extract
Start by driving eggs into the mixture, one at a time. It is best to hammer in the eggs with a metal whisk. Drive the eggs in gently until smooth, then add the vanilla.
Step 4. Add flour and salt
To make a brownie dough, add flour and salt. Stir the mixture with a silicone spatula. Start at the far end of the bowl. Stir in a vertical motion, from bottom to top.
Turn bowl a quarter circle and continue stirring. This will give you a smooth brownie dough by turning the bowl in gentle, gradual movements
Part 2 of 3: Bake Brownies
Step 1. Prepare the baking dish
Prepare a baking dish about 28 x 18 cm. Grease it with oil. Then use a spoon or spatula to scoop the brownie dough into a mold.
Step 2. Bake brownies
Brownies are baked at 180 ºC for about 35 minutes.
Make sure the brownie is completely baked before removing it from the oven. To do this, pierce it in the center with a toothpick. If the toothpick remains clean, then the brownie is ready, and if there is some dough left on the toothpick, then give the brownie a few more minutes
Step 3. Let the brownie cool
Remove the dish from the oven and leave to cool for about one hour. Remember to cool the brownie completely before you can continue cooking.
Step 4. Cut the brownie into small pieces
The size of the pieces will of course depend on your preference. Take a sharp knife and cut the resulting crust into small pieces. First, you can cut the cake vertically and then horizontally.
Use a cold knife to make your cuts smoother. You can grease a knife with butter and put it in the refrigerator for about an hour, then slice it into brownies
Step 5. Chill the brownie pieces
Place the brownie pieces in the refrigerator. Let the pieces cool for at least an hour. This will keep them firm and cold enough when dipped in chocolate.
Since the brownies won't stay in the refrigerator for long, you don't need to cover them. However, if you wish, you can cover them with cling film or foil
Part 3 of 3: Cover with chocolate and garnish with brownies
Step 1. Melt the chocolate
Place the chocolate pieces in a microwave safe dish. Turn on the microwave for 30 seconds. Then remove and stir. Continue melting the chocolate in this way until it is completely melted.
Step 2. Dip the brownie pieces into the chocolate
Remove the brownie pieces from the refrigerator. Dip them into the chocolate mixture.
Step 3. Decorate the brownie pieces
Take out the chocolate brownie pieces and decorate them to your liking. They can be sprinkled with crystal sugar, confectionery sprinkles, or nuts.
- If you're making brownies for a reason, decorate them appropriately. For example, if these are brownies for the New Year's table, then sprinkle them with sprinkles in the form of snowflakes or Christmas trees, and if for Valentine's Day, then with hearts.
- If you are preparing brownies for a children's party, then use bright colored balls or stars.
Step 4. Refrigerate brownies
When you dip the brownies in the chocolate and decorate, put them in the refrigerator to harden the chocolate. The hardening time of chocolate depends on the temperature in the refrigerator, but it usually takes about 20 minutes.
Step 5. Storing the brownie pieces
Store brownies at room temperature in an airtight container. Such sweets are stored for about 3-4 days. After that, it is better to throw them away.