Our winter chocolate brownie recipe with a little red on the side
Convert your kitchen into a chocolatier’s winter workshop and wow family and friends with smoky chocolate brownies inspired by Roodeberg’s cherished Classic Red Blend with a story in every bottle for over 70 years.
Created by Ilse van der Merwe, the well-known food writer and TV personality at www.thefoodfox.com, as the perfect winter indulgence with a glass of Roodeberg by the fire, these delicious brownies are coated in rich chocolate and topped with smoked paprika and salt. Best enjoyed with friends following Roodeberg’s lead, these decadent brownies will work their magic with the wine’s smooth palate and aromatic fruity layers with hints of sweet spice and dark chocolate.
Pairing the right flavours with a particular wine is all about balance. You might be used to the beautiful balance of bitterness and sweetness when it comes to pairing red wine with dark chocolate, but I've added three surprising elements: salt, smoke and earthy umami in the shape of smoked salt and smoked paprika.
Ingredients
- 230 g (almost 1 cup) butter
- 375 g (1 4/5 cup) sugar
- 125 g (1 cup) cocoa powder
- 10 ml (2 teaspoons) smoked paprika, plus extra for sprinkling
- 2,5 ml (1/2 teaspoon) salt
- 5 ml vanilla extract
- 3 XL eggs
- 100 g (3/4 cup) cake flour
- 100 g (1 cup) walnuts, roughly chopped
- 80 g coffee flavoured dark chocolate (or plain dark chocolate)
- smoked salt, for sprinkling
Method
- Preheat the oven to 170°C and position the rack in the lower third of the oven.
- In a medium pot over low heat, melt the butter (do not boil).
- When completely melted, remove from the heat and add the sugar, cocoa powder, paprika and salt to the warm pot.
- Stir with a wooden spoon until well mixed, then add the vanilla and one egg at a time, mixing very well between the additions of each egg.
- When the mixture is thick and glossy, stir in the flour (no need to sift) until no streaks remain, then keep stirring for exactly 40 strokes.
- Now stir in the chopped walnuts.
- Line a 30x20cm baking tin with non-stick baking paper, then transfer the brownie mixture into the lined tin, edging it evenly into all corners.
- Bake for 20-22 minutes until the middle is risen but still very soft (it must look slightly under-baked), then remove from the oven to cool completely.
- For the top layer, break the chocolate into smaller blocks and melt in a small bowl in the microwave at 30 second increments until fully melted.
- Pour over the brownies, then spread evenly all over.
- Sprinkle lightly with smoked salt flakes and some smoked paprika, then cut into bars/squares when the chocolate has firmed up.
- Enjoy with Roodeberg Classic Red Blend and store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Roodeberg has a wide selection of delicious recipes created by well-known foodies. Visit www.roodeberg.com and share them by joining the Roodeberg community on Facebook.
