Chocolate Walnut Brownies
Ingredients
- 125 g butter roughly chopped
- 125 g dark chocolate roughly chopped
- 2 eggs
- ยพ cup caster sugar
- Pinch of salt
- ยฝ cup plain flour
- ยผ cup cocoa powder
- 40 g chocolate roughly chopped
- 75 g walnuts diced, optional
Instructions
- Melt the butter and dark chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, making sure the bowl does not touch the water, or melt in the microwave on MEDIUM (50%) power until smooth. Let cool slightly.
- Line a 20 cm square cake pan that fits in the air fryer with baking paper.
- Preheat the air fryer to 160ยฐC.
- Whisk the eggs, caster sugar and salt in a bowl until thick and creamy.
- Stir the flour and cocoa powder through the melted chocolate mixture, then stir through the chopped chocolate and walnuts, if using.
- Spoon the mixture into the prepared cake pan and air fry for 25 to 30 minutes, until set with a slight wobble in the centre.
- Let cool completely, then slice into squares.
Notes & Wine Advice
Serving Suggestions
Serve the brownies at room temperature for a rich, fudgy texture. They are delicious on their own or served slightly warm with vanilla ice cream for dessert.Recipe Notes
Allow the melted butter and chocolate mixture to cool slightly before combining it with the remaining ingredients. The walnuts are optional and can be omitted if you prefer plain chocolate brownies.Cooking Advice
Do not overcook the brownies. They should be set around the edges while retaining a slight wobble in the centre when removed from the air fryer. They will continue to firm as they cool.Storage Advice
Allow the brownies to cool completely before storing them in an airtight container. They will keep for up to 3 days at room temperature.Wine Advice
Rich dark chocolate brownies work well with a sweet, full-flavoured wine. Choose a suitable bottle from Renรฉ’s Wijnbeleving.Nutrition values
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About Chocolate Walnut Brownies
Chocolate Walnut Brownies are rich, dense and packed with dark chocolate. This version combines melted chocolate and butter with cocoa powder, extra pieces of chopped chocolate and optional walnuts. Cooking them in the Airfryer creates a set exterior while leaving the centre deliciously fudgy.
Using Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate forms the main flavour base of these brownies. Melting it together with butter creates a smooth, rich mixture that gives the finished brownies their dense texture and deep chocolate flavour.
Additional chopped chocolate is folded through the batter before cooking. These pieces create small pockets of chocolate throughout the brownies.
Adding Cocoa Powder
Cocoa powder intensifies the chocolate flavour without adding additional moisture. Combined with melted dark chocolate, it creates a stronger and more complex chocolate character than using either ingredient alone.
Sift the cocoa powder if it contains lumps so it incorporates smoothly into the batter.
Walnuts for Texture
Diced walnuts are optional but provide a crunchy contrast to the soft brownie centre. Their slightly earthy flavour also works particularly well with dark chocolate.
Chop the walnuts into relatively small pieces so they are distributed evenly throughout the batter and every portion contains some crunch.
Preparing the Chocolate Mixture
Melt the butter and chocolate gently in a heatproof bowl positioned over simmering water. The base of the bowl should not touch the water.
Alternatively, melt them in the microwave using medium power and short intervals. Stir regularly to prevent the chocolate from overheating.
Whisking the Eggs and Sugar
Whisk the eggs, caster sugar and salt until the mixture becomes thick and creamy. This helps give the brownies structure while keeping their characteristic dense texture.
Once the chocolate mixture has cooled slightly, combine the ingredients without excessive mixing.
Preparing the Cake Pan
Use a square cake pan, 20 cm, that fits comfortably inside the air fryer basket. Line it with baking paper so the brownies can be removed easily after cooling.
Spread the batter evenly into the corners so the brownies cook to a consistent thickness.
Air Frying the Brownies
Cook the brownies at 160ยฐC for approximately 25 to 30 minutes. The edges should look set while the centre retains a slight wobble.
The brownies continue cooking from residual heat after they are removed, so waiting until the centre is completely firm can result in a dry texture.
Cooling Is Important
Allow the brownies to cool completely in the pan before slicing. Freshly cooked brownies are very soft, and cutting them too soon can cause them to fall apart.
As they cool, the chocolate and butter firm and create the dense, fudgy consistency associated with brownies.
Serving Ideas
These brownies make a rich Dessert served alone or with vanilla ice cream. For a simpler treat, cut them into smaller squares and serve with coffee or tea.
They are also suitable for a Birthday or Party because they can be prepared ahead and divided into individual portions before serving.
Storing the Brownies
Keep completely cooled brownies in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Their high chocolate and butter content helps them remain moist and fudgy.
Chocolate Walnut Brownies combine dark chocolate, cocoa and optional crunchy walnuts in a compact air fryer dessert. Their rich flavour and soft centre make them particularly satisfying when you want a classic chocolate treat without using a conventional oven.