Gingerbread Men Brownies

Ingredients

• Salted Butter (165g)
• Dark Chocolate (200g)
• Eggs (3 large eggs + 2 large egg yolks)
• Vanilla Extract (2tsp)
• Soft Light Brown Sugar (165g)
• Plain Flour (2tbsp)
• Cocoa Powder (1tbsp)
• Salt (Pinch)
• Decoration
• Shortbread Gingerbread Men (9)
• Milk Chocolate (100g)

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180°C (gas mark 4).
2. Grease and line a 9"x9" baking tin.
3. Chop the chocolate into small (approx 1cm) chunks.
4. Melt the butter in a pan on a medium-low heat. Remove from the heat when the butter has melted, and add the chocolate chunks. Leave to stand for a couple of minutes to allow the chocolate to melt, and then stir together until the chocolate has fully melted.
5. In a seperate large bowl, use an electric whisk to whisk the eggs, egg yolks and vanilla extract together until the eggs are light and fluffy.
6. Add half of the sugar carefully around the edge of the bowl to prevent any air from being knocked out, and whisk. Do the same with the other half of the sugar. Whisk until the mixture becomes stiffer.
7. Using the same method as you added the sugar - pour the melted chocolate around the edge of the bowl. Then add the flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Stir until all ingredients are fully combined.
8. Pour the mixture into the prepared square tin.
9. Bake on the middle shelf of the oven for 25-30 minutes, until the middle is very slightly gooey when a knife is inserted.
10. Take out of the oven leave to cool completly within the tin, placed on a wire rack. The top will sink and crack.

• Decoration

1. Melt 100g of milk chocolate in a heatproof bowl over hot water.
2. Drizzle all but a tablespoon of melted chocolate over the brownies. Then, using the remaining melted chocolate as glue, arrange the gingerbread men evenly on top to form the 8 portions.

Notes

• - Leave the brownies to cool in the tin before cutting, or they will lose their shape!
• - I used Walkers Shortbread Gingerbread Men for this recipe, but if you're less lazy than me, you can totally bake your own shortbread to use!