B is for . . .
1 & 2 The Crescent, Queen Street, Exeter EX4 3SB
Taking the time to bake can be a wonderful thing. Focusing on one task that has a delightful outcome, that family and friends can enjoy.
Distractions are often all around us and can take away the joy from the simple things. I encourage you to observe the cracking of the eggs and how they slosh around the bowl before slowly coming to a standstill. The cutting of butter can be a sublime act to observe. Watch as the knife becomes enveloped as you apply pressure down into the block. Allow the heady smell of chocolate to surround you as you rip open the packet. Enjoy the sensation of a smile spreading across your face as you breathe it all in.
When time allows, shopping for food can help us to feel more connected to the world we occupy. Local producers are always overjoyed to explain how their produce is crafted and then brought to you. I encourage you to spark up a conversation with your nearest independent food producer. They will guide you on a wonderful and never ending journey of local food. There is even a possibility they may introduce you to something new. Perhaps something you could experiment with putting in the next batch of brownies you make?
PLUS - as an A-Z to Wellbeing extra special treat the wonderful team at Exploding Bakery are offering a prize giveaway, 2 letterbox brownies of your choice.
It's an Instagram competition so please head to Libraries Unlimited Instagram page to enter. @librariesunlimited Follow the instructions to be in with a chance of winning, competition will close on Friday 7th January 2022.
T&C's are below.
Almond brownie
A flourless brownie recipe with a fudgey texture and nutty depth from the team at The Exploding Bakery.
This flourless brownie has a dense fudgey texture and is best when slightly under-baked. It’s been the backbone of The Exploding Bakery since we opened 10 years ago. It rises from the oven like an edible monolith, a perfectly engineered slab of sustenance, a monument to our values where simplicity wins over faffed about guff. But if faffing is your game, it holds up to additions such as stem ginger, French caramel, peanut butter or whatever gets you in the mood.
INGREDIENTS
300 g high quality dark chocolate 250 g unsalted butter
200 g caster sugar
4 eggs
150 g ground almonds
1/2 tsp salt
OPTIONAL TOPPING 100 g flaked almonds 10 g golden syrup
METHOD
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 170°C/150°C Fan
Step 2
Place the flaked almonds on a tray lined with baking paper and drizzle with the golden syrup and place in the oven whilst it’s warming up. Check every 10 minutes to see how they’re getting on and turn them over with a spatula until they’re toasty and glistening, then remove from the oven and leave to cool.
Step 3
Melt the chocolate & butter in a bowl over a saucepan of simmering water.
Step 4
Pour into a mixing bowl and add the sugar.
Step 5
Beat in the eggs until the mixture becomes smooth and glossy and it creates an emulsion.
Step 6
Then add the ground almonds and salt and mix until it all combines.
Step 7
Transfer the mixture to a lined tray bake tin.
Step 8
Top with candied flaked almonds (optional).
Step 9
Place in the oven for 30 minutes until the brownie is just set, but still has a little wobble in the middle.
Step 10
Serve warm with a dollop of cream or cold with a good cup of coffee.
Marmalade brownie
This marmalade brownie recipe from the team at the Exploding Bakery is like breakfast in a brownie.
Sometimes you pick up a really nice loaf of sourdough with the best intentions, but circumstance means you don’t get to eat it fresh and it just sits around for a few days and then ends up in the bin. Repurposing that forgotten loaf is a fun way to reduce wastage and add some crunchy texture to a fudgey brownie with a little zing. Making the mix with a low gluten wheat flour from a local miller can also add some maltiness, but it’s ok to use normal white cake flour too.
INGREDIENTS
300 g dark chocolate 250 g unsalted butter 300 g caster sugar
5 eggs
200 g plain flour
50 g candied orange bits (optional) 2 big slices of sourdough
100 g marmalade
1 tsp sea salt
METHOD
Step 1
Remove the crust from two big slices of sourdough bread and cut into large croutons size chunks. Place on a baking tray and bake in the oven on a low temperature 120°C/100°C until they become really crunchy and brittle and lose all their chewiness. Don’t worry if there’s a little colour forming on the bread, some toasty flavour is a good thing.
Step 2
Melt the chocolate and butter together in a large bowl over some simmering water or in a heavy based pan on a very low heat.
Step 3
Add the sugar and mix into the melted chocolate and butter until it starts to dissolve.
Step 4
You can use the same bowl to save on washing up, but make sure it’s cooled down a little before adding the eggs. Mix well until the mix appears glossy.
Step 5
Sift the flour into the mixing bowl and lightly fold until it combines. Now chuck in the candied orange bits if you’re using them.
Step 6
Scrape your brownie mix into a small tray or large loaf tin lined with baking paper.
Step 7
Add the sourdough croutons to the top, then press down into the mix.
Step 8
Spoon some teaspoon sized dollops of marmalade on top.
Step 9
Bake on a medium heat 170°C/150°C Fan for 25 to 30 minutes. You want a bit of a wobble in the middle of the tray as it comes out the oven to get that fudgy texture or it will become cakey.
Step 10
Serve whilst warm with ice cream or leave to cool and consume over the coming days with a cup of tea.
COMPETITION - INSTAGRAM T&C's
- The giveaway is open to UK residents aged 18+ only.
- Libraries Unlimited staff are not eligible.
The giveaway is in no way endorsed or sponsored by Instagram. - The deadline for entry will be midday on Friday 7th January 2022.
- The winner will be selected using a random Instagram comment selector.
- The winner will be notified within 5 days of the draw via the Instagram account they used to comment on the giveaway post.
- Prize to be claimed within one month of the notification, otherwise they will be re-drawn; the prize is non-transferable.
- Prizes may contain nuts - PLEASE ensure you have read the Exploding Bakery allergy information.
- Prizes (x2 letterbox bakes) will be posted to addresses of your choice within the UK.
