Mocha Brownies with Caramelised White Chocolate Ganache

Mocha brownies
170 g unsalted butter
170 g dark chocolate
1 Tbs instant coffee
3 large eggs
3/4 cup caster sugar (180g)
3/4 cup plain flour (100g)
3 Tbs cocoa powder
1/2 tsp salt

Preheat the oven to 180°C and line a 20cm square baking tin. In a medium bowl set over a small pot of simmering water, gently melt the butter and chocolate together. Stir in the instant coffee then set aside to cool. Beat the eggs and caster sugar together until pale and thick - they should form smooth ribbons when lifted with a spoon (about 3-5 minutes). Add the melted chocolate mix and fold in to fully combine. Sift over the flour, cocoa and salt, and fold to just combine. Pour into the baking tin and bake for 20-25 mins or until just set and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out with some moist crumbs (not completely clean). Cool to room temperature.


Caramelised white chocolate ganache
300 g white chocolate
1/2 cup cream (125ml)
1 tsp vanilla paste
1/2 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 130°C. In shallow rectangular baking dish, break up chocolate into small pieces (no need to line the dish). Place in the oven for 10 mins, then remove and stir (the chocolate will be white and melted at this point). Bake for about another 50 mins to 1hr, removing and stirring about every 10 mins, until the chocolate is a deep brown. Your chocolate may seize and crumble, especially if it has less than 30% cocoa (most supermarket brands have less). Don’t worry! Just keep stirring until it is a nice toffee caramel colour. Tip into a medium bowl. Heat the cream until it just bubbles at the edges (but don’t boil it), then pour over the caramelised chocolate. Stir with a whisk until you get a smooth ganache. If there are still some small white chocolate granules, use a blender to get it smooth, but won't make much difference to end product. Stir in vanilla and salt. Place in the fridge to cool until almost set but still spoonable (a thick Nutella-like consistency). Beat until lighter in colour, thick and frosting-like. Spread over the cooled brownie base.
Trouble shooting: If it's still quite liquid and doesn't lighten when beaten or ever seems to split (get oily)- refrigerate for 10mins then beat again. More trouble shooting tips.

Tastes great after being refrigerated to firm up. Cut once set.


Via The Brick Kitchen