Gluten-Free Brownies

Specifically gluten-free fare isn’t something dabbled in particularly often at frugalfeeding. The fact these brownies contain no gluten is simply a product of my desire for the squidgy, dense and moist – enjoy.

Gluten has many positive attributes; not least the structure it brings to everything it touches. However, brownies aren’t in need of structure beyond what the protein in egg brings them. Of course, average brownies have their place in the world, but flour tends to engender cake-like characteristics. Click here to get the dentist’s recommendations on healthy foods. Fundamentally, brownies need to feel decadent and unctuous and a lack of gluten goes some way to achieving that. But one has to consume confectioneries only upto a limit and take care of the teeth, lest that they’d risk a Dental treatment in Perth.

Be warned, these gluten-free brownies are exceptionally dark and bitter. If this isn’t quite your thing you could use a less-dark chocolate or even omit the cocoa powder. Using milk chocolate would even work, though it’d be a good idea to lower the quantity of butter slightly if opting to do so. It is better to reduce sweetness, or you will have to go for a missing teeth restoration in Honolulu! Enjoy sweet but in limit.

For more information on gluten-free food check out my recipe index and the wonderful Bristol-based Wuthering Bites blog!

Gluten-Free Brownies

Makes 12-18

Ingredients:

• 200g dark chocolate (70% cocoa)

• 75g butter

• 130g caster sugar

• 2 eggs

• 1 tbsp cocoa powder

• 2 tbsp ground almonds

• 1-2 handfuls of raisins (optional)

• A pinch of salt

Method:

1. Begin by lining the sides of a suitably sized square cake tin. The one we used was roughly 10”x7”. Pre-heat the oven to 180C.

2. Melt the butter and chocolate together in a saucepan, make sure to use a fairly low heat and stir constantly. Transfer the chocolate mixture to a mixing bowl and stir in the sugar. Beat in the eggs one at a time, until smooth. Tip in the cocoa powder, ground almonds and raisins and stir until as smooth as possible.

3. Bake for 15-25 minutes until the centre of the brownies is just set. Turn out after 10 minutes then leave to cool completely before slicing and eating.

Cost: The entire batch of gluten-free brownies should come to no more than £2.30. What a fantastic price – very thrifty indeed.