Chocolate Brownie Truffles
Isn’t it funny, how even though Mothers Day cards and gifts are waved in our faces as soon as you step into any sort of shop, we all seem to be rushing to the card shop on Saturday trying to find a remotely suitable card. When you were younger, it was ok because you had to make cards at school. Cards which probably had some sort of flower, maybe even a heart on, with a message inside that read something like “To Mummy. You are the best Mummy in the whole world. Thank you for making my packed lunch for me. Lots of love (your name) xxxxxxxxxx”. As your language skills develop you might throw in a few adjectives like “kind” and “caring”. Generally, when it comes to card buying, I tend to go for funny cards. I can’t stand those slushy sentimental ones. I like ones with puns. They are probably my favourite. It’s always a little disappointing when the recipient doesn’t find the card as funny as I do. Which reminds me, I better go get a card!!
Seeing as my brother is not even in the same country, he has to make an extra effort which of courses translates to, spend more money. Excellent. That leaves me with the job of picking a gift (from both of us) and cooking dinner. Naturally.
I have for you THE PERFECT homemade gift. Chocolate Brownie Truffles. As soon as you say the word truffles everyone is like “O fancy!” But these are sooooo easy to make! Even you novices can’t get this wrong (i don’t think)! With no fussy, fancy ingredients you can whip this up in no time! They have to set overnight in the fridge so make them on Friday. That buys you some time just in case they go wrong. Which they won’t haha! I remember one of my first attempts at making my Mum breakfast in bed. If I recall correctly, she got cereal and a mug of milk. I didn’t know how to make Indian tea you see. Poor thing. What a grim breakfast haha.
These little bites of goodness make for an impressive gift no matter who the recipient is and they are pretty cheap to make. You will probably find a few of the ingredients lurking at the back of your cupboard anyways. And all you need to wrap them is some baking parchment and string! Now if your Mum really doesn’t like them or you somehow mess them up, just blame the internet. Not me specifically, because I will not be held responsible for your incompetence in the kitchen!! Or blame your equipment, say the oven temperature wasn’t stable! Having said that “it’s the thought that counts”so you Mum simply can’t get mad at you!
Recipe
Equipment
Whisk
Square oven tin (lined with baking parchment)*
Sieve
Baking parchment and string (for wrapping)
85ml full fat milk
2tbsp caster sugar
100g good quality dark chocolate (such as Green & Blacks)
85g butter (softened)
2tsp plain flour
¼tsp salt
½tsp cocoa powder
Method
- Preheat the oven to 200c/180c fan/Gas 6.
- In a saucepan, bring to low simmer milk and sugar over a low heat until sugar has dissolved. (Do not over boil!!)
- Remove from heat, add chocolate and stir until chocolate has melted. (Best to break the chocolate into squares, it will melt quicker).
- Add butter and stir until butter has melted. (It is imperative that the butter is softened otherwise you will get stubborn bits of butter that don’t melt!)
- Add beaten egg, salt and vanilla essence. Stir until all ingredients have combined.
- Add flour and stir until combined.
- Pour the chocolate mix into a LINED baking tin.
- Bake for about 22mins. Leave to cool before covering and putting in the fridge to set overnight.
- THE NEXT DAY lift the brownie truffle square straight out of the tin.
- Cut into squares using a sharp knife.
- Using a sieve sprinkle cocoa powder over squares and jumble them about a bit so all sides of the squares get covered.
- Transfer the squares to a clean bit of baking parchment. Bring up the sides of the parchment and tie together forming a little bundle of chocolate brownie truffles.