my partner and I love the brownies from lily vanillis bakery in east London, the recipe for them is in her book sweet tooth and we make them quite often, I had some blood oranges and decided to give them a bit over a citrusy make over (not that they needed it). these brownies are soft, super chocolaty with a hit of salt in every mouthful, they really are amazing, so add the orange flavour I added the zest of a blood orange and a little juice in the batter as well as some slices set on top. I chose to add chopped pecans and pistachios and some cacao to add crunch, and some fragrant thyme to compliment the oranges. I love brownies they are one of my favourite treats to have so its great to find such a great recipe that I can change up and add things too. even if you don’t have oranges make them with out and trust me you will want to make them over and over again. On another note lily Vanilli will be joining us to do a workshop and the retreat I am hosting in April, click on the link in the sidebar for more details.

You can’t tell I’m wearing my Minnie Mouse pjs under this apron can you? i always bake in my pyjamas.

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg625/twiggstudios/blood%20orange%20brownies-1-7_zpse21zpt1z.jpg

lily vanilli’s brownie recipe from her book sweet tooth

• 5 medium eggs
• 300g dark chocolate 70% cocoa
• 300g unsalted butter
• 400g caster sugar
• 80g cocoa powder
• 130g self raising flour
• 70g plain flour
• 50g nuts chopped
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• sprinkling sea salt
• zest of one blood orange and three tbsp. juice
• slices of one blood orange with skin removed
• sprigs of thyme

preheat the oven to 180c, line a rectangle or large square tin, chop the chocolate up into small chunks (I find the finer you chop it the easier it melts), in a pan add the butter, sugar, orange zest and juice and a sprig of thyme (if you want plain brownies leave the orange and thyme out) and stir gently until melted, mean while whisk the eggs in a stand mixer until smooth then add the chopped chocolate, remove the sprig of thyme and slowly pour the hot butter mixture onto the eggs while they are mixing on a medium speed then turn the speed up and mix for 3 to 4 minutes until the chocolate has melted. in a bowl add the flours and cocoa powder, once the chocolate and melted add the vanilla extract and then fold in the dry ingredients, pour into tin and sprinkle over the chopped nuts and place on the orange slices, then sprinkle over the salt and some thyme. bake for about 20 minutes until there is just a slight wobble in the centre (if not using oranges on top then bake for 15 minutes)