The Best Eggless Brownies

I'm a believer in eggs. I really think that eggs are crucial in baking and make a world of a difference. But this is one recipe where I believe that you don't need eggs. Its soft gooey and everything you want in a brownie. The recipe has no baking powder or baking soda and uses natural leavening process to give you the perfect texture.

Few tips before you get started:

Buttermilk

Its really easy to make at home. All you need is milk and vinegar. The measurements are simple - for every cup of buttermilk, you need 1 cup of milk and 1 tbsp of synthetic white vinegar. You can use these measurements to scale or cut down the quantity. It acts as a replacement for eggs and helps in getting a soft chewy brownie. Please don't use the packaged buttermilk that you get in Indian grocery stores. Its not the same stuff.

Cinnamon and Coffee

I use a little bit of cinnamon and coffee. You don't taste it in the final product. But it enhances the taste of chocolate and makes it more chocolaty.

Dutch Processed Cocoa

Try and use good quality Dutch processed cocoa in your recipe. You can't use instant hot chocolate mix or other imitation stuff and get the same result.

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Ingredients:

• 114 grams salted butter (melted)

• 1 tbsp oil (any neutral oil will work)

• 1/2 cup brown sugar

• 1/2 cup castor sugar

• 1/2 cup buttermilk

• 2 tsp vanilla extract

• 1/8 tsp cinnamon

• 1/8 tsp coffee dissolved in 1 tbsp water

• 1/2 cup all purpose flour

• 1/2 cup Dutch processed cocoa powder

• Chocolate chips (optional, to taste)

• Oreos (optional, to taste)

• Walnuts (optional, to taste)

Process:

1. Pre-heat your oven to 175 C and prepare an 8X8 inch baking pan with some oil and parchment paper and set aside

2. In a bowl, combine melted butter, both kinds of sugar and oil. Whisk until well combined

3. Add vanilla and buttermilk and whisk again

4. Sift the flour and cocoa powder in your wet mixture. Gently fold in the dry ingredients just until combined. Do not overmix

5. Add toppings of choice. Your options are endless - Choco chips, walnuts, Oreos, butterscotch, etc.

6. Pour the batter into your prepared pan and bake in the pre-heated oven for 35-40 minutes in the center rack. You only want to turn on your bottom heating or you'll scorch the brownies from the top

7. Once your brownies are done (they'll still be soft in the center), wait for them to completely cool down before you try to de-mould them

8. Cut them into pieces, dust with some icing sugar and top with some ice-cream!

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