Marbled Christmas Brownies

Double Chocolate Marbled Brownies

 Over the years, brownies have become a part and parcel of the Christmas Menu in our house.  Rich Chocolate decadence is an absolute must for any lover of chocolate.  Bake it in a large pan or just pour them into mini moulds and serve them at your Christmas party or simply give away to friends.

The Recipe:

100 gms maida; ½ tsp. baking powder; 30 gms cocoa powder; 112.5 gms. margarine or butter; 140 gms. powdered sugar;2 large eggs; 1/2 tsp. vanilla essence; 37.5 gms. chopped nuts(either walnut, cashew, almond or groundnut).

For the Icing:  110 gms. icing sugar,sifted;, 30 gms. soft butter; milk to mix; vanilla or peppermint essence.

Topping:  60 gms cooking or milk chocolate(either white or brown or a combination of both).

Decoration:  Marzipan Christmas Tree.  For Recipe go to

 http://fromthefryingpan.blogspot.com/2010/04/easter-treat.html

Take a small ball of marzipan, add a few drops green colouring, roll out and with a cookie cutter cut out a tree shape.  Keep aside till needed.

 Grease and line the base of a 20 cm / 8 inch pan with baking paper, so that the paper extends over two sides.

Sift the flour, baking powder and cocoa onto a baking sheet.  Set aside.  Cream sugar and margarine till light and fluffy.  Beat in the eggs and the vanilla essence.  If the mixture starts to curdle, stir in a little of the flour mixture.  Fold in the remaining flour and the nuts.  Pour the mixture into prepared pan and bake in preheated oven 175C for about 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean.  Allow to cool.  Make the icing by combining all the ingredients to a spreading consistency.  Spread over cooled cake.  When set, melt the white chocolate in a bowl over gently simmering water.  Drizzle over icing.  Follow with brown.  Take a toothpick and gently run it through the melted chocolate.  Leave to set.  Takes about 15 minutes.  Place the marzipan tree in the centre and get ready to celebrate.



Or pour the prepared mixture into mini foil cases and bake for 15 minutes in a preheated oven at 175 Centigrade.  Cool and follow same procedure for the icing.  Very enticing and absolutely irresistible.