Christmas tradition: best brownie recipes, value for money

Sponsored by Nuffnang

One of my Christmas traditions involves making and baking to save some money.

I love to give gifts and with seven cherubs the budget just does not allow for that much expensive sharing and caring around Christmas time. So what I have started to do over the past couple of years is to give away a plate of some of my favourite brownies.

Often I have been asked what the recipes are for these brownies so I thought this year I would help you get a little 'value for money' too and share with you my best brownie recipes. Maybe even help you start a new Christmas tradition in your family!

Warning: if you are on a Christmas diet - Leave immediately!

Super Chocolate Brilliant Brownie 

{Sugar loaded version}

Ingredients:

1 cup of butter, melted
2/3 cup of cocoa powder
2 cups of sugar
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups of flour

Mixture:

1. Preheat oven to 180 °C. Grease a 20cm x 30cm base baking pan.
Line base and sides with baking paper, allowing a 2cm overhang at long ends.
2. In a bowl mix butter, cocoa and sugar.
3. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each one.
4. Stir in flour.
5. Spread into prepared baking pan and bake for 30-35 minutes.

Let cool completely, sprinkle with icing sugar and then cut into delicious pieces and enjoy!

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Caramel brownies

(a serious family favourite)

Ingredients:

375g Dark Chocolate Melts
200g butter, chopped
3/4 cup castor sugar
3 eggs
2 cups of plain flour
1/2 cup white chocolate bits
380g can top 'n' fill caramel

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180 °C. Grease a 21cm x 31cm base baking pan.
Line base and sides with baking paper, allowing a 2cm overhang at long ends.
2. Place dark chocolate melts and butter in a large, microwave-safe bowl. Microwave uncovered on medium for 2-3 minutes, stirring every minute with a metal spoon or until melted and smooth.
3. Stir castor sugar into chocolate mixture. Stand for 5 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, stirring after each additon. Stir in flour.
4. Fold through which chocolate bits and top 'n' fill.
5. Spread mixture into prepared pan. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until a skewer inserted in centre comes out with crumbs clinging. Set aside in pan to cool completely.
6. You can use a star-shaped cookie cutter to cut stars from the brownie. Serve.

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Double-choc Marble Swirl Brownies

Ingredients:

250g butter
430g (2 cups) caster sugar
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups plain flour
1 tsp vanilla essence
100g dark chocolate bits
1/3 cup cocoa powder
100g white chocolate bits
Icing sugar to dust

Method:

1. preheat oven to 180 °C. Line a 20cm x 30cm baking pan with non-stick baking paper.
2. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat. Stir in sugar.
3. Add eggs, 1 at a time, and stir until mixture is thick and glossy.
3. Sift the flour over the egg mixture. Stir until well combined. Stir in vanilla.
4. Divide the mixture into 2 bowls.
5. Add the dark chocolate bits and sift the cocoa powder into 1 portion of mixture. Stir until well combined. Stir the white chocolate bits into the remaining portion.
6. Spoon the dark and white chocolate mixtures alternately over the base of the prepared pan. Use a flat-bladed knife to create a swirled effect.
7. Bake for 30 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Set aside in the pan to cool completely. Cut into pieces and dust with icing sugar.

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I know you want to do some baking now after reading this. But, first tell me:

What Christmas traditions do you do in your family to get value for money???

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