Chocolate Brownies

Makes 16-20 squares

Ingredients

8 oz\250g dates
4 oz\100g margarine\butter - tutor uses margarine
1 free range egg, beaten
1 very ripe banana, mashed
2½ oz\60g wholemeal flour
2 tsp baking powder
4 tbsp cocoa powder, sieved
3 oz\110g walnuts, roughly chopped
1 tsp\5ml vanilla essence
To decorate:
75g/3oz melted chocolate for coating.
walnut halves

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas 4. Grease a square cake tin (about 18cm x 18cm/7" x 7").

2. Put the dates into a saucepan and add water to just cover them. Cook for 5-10 minutes or until softened. Puree the dates until smooth and allow to cool a little.

3. Cream together the dates and the butter/margarine while the dates are still warm, until light and fluffy.

4. Add the egg, the mashed banana and vanilla essence and mix well.

5. Sieve the flour, baking powder and cocoa powder and add to the mixture.

6. Fold in the walnuts and turn the mixture into the prepared tray.

7. Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the brownies feel fairly firm to the touch. Remove from the oven and leave to cool in the tin.

8. Melt some chocolate bar (about 75g/3 oz) in a bowl set over some gently simmering water. Spread the melted chocolate over the cooled brownies and decorate with the walnut halves. Leave to set. Cut into squares and remove from the tin.

© Copyright The Vegetarian Society 2002