Nutty and rather decadent, brownies make excellent desserts. The taste testers in my office at the Carlton Hotel, thought this brownie particularly good, so much so, it never made it beyond morning tea time, it was devoured in one go. I am sure your family will be the same. This is the kind of dessert that children of all ages will like.

Ingredients

• 150 grams dark chocolate
• 200 grams unsalted butter
• 1¾ cups packed light brown sugar
• 1½ teaspoons vanilla essence
• 5 eggs
• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup chopped toasted macadamia nuts
• vanilla ice cream or cream to serve

Quick chocolate sauce

• 100 grams chocolate
• ¾ cup cream

Method

1. Gently melt the chocolate and allow to cool for 10 minutes.
2. Beat the butter, sugar and vanilla essence to a light and fluffy cream. Beat in the eggs one at a time, until you have a very light, fluffy mixture.
3. Stir in the cooled melted chocolate, stirring frequently as the chocolate is warm.
4. Fold in the sifted flour and chopped macadamia nuts.
5. Spread the batter into a well-greased, floured, paper-lined 23cm square cake tin. Bake at 180ºC for 30-35 minutes or until a knife inserted comes out clean.
6. Leave in the tin for 10 minutes before turning out onto a cake rack to cool. The top will be very cracked. Dust well with icing sugar and cut into squares to serve. Serve with Quick Chocolate Sauce and pouring cream or vanilla ice cream. The brownies will keep well in an airtight container.

Quick chocolate sauce

1. Chop the chocolate into small pieces and place it in a glass bowl or jug with the cream. Heat in a microwave for about 2 minutes on full power or place the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Stir the melted chocolate and cream together and pour over the brownies to serve.