Why brownies are bliss

All that cooking had left her with a lot on her plate. 

Whenever the world is too full of work, rain, vegetables or all of the above, the only solution is a big, good-to-be-bad batch of brownies. Oozing with rich gooey goodness, it is impossible to contemplate brownies and not feel a rumble of longing in the stomach.

Some of the joy derived from these chunks of chocolate heaven comes from my memories of baking as a child, when everything should be covered in chocolate and the handheld mixer was a demon just waiting to mangle any tiny hand that got in its way. Even though I now know the latter to be a myth, there is no denying that brownies are one of the most fun cakes to make. The thick, rich chocolate mixture, dotted with treats, feels reassuringly like a proper cake mix, or even a magical sludge of the variety usually seen in a witch’s cauldron.

This mysterious quality makes me feel adventurous; like a giddy child testing the boundaries, I love adding things to brownie mix to see how it works out. Anything from marshmallows, raisins, Mars bars, Mini Eggs, cookies - the list of dangerously delicious extras goes on. As the mixture bakes, that warm, inviting brownie smell fills the air and draws you to the oven window to watch as the spell is complete and the potion transforms into glorious gooey cake.

And then comes the eating. These are not dainty little sponges, with a light-as-air texture that lets you pretend they don’t really count, but delicious blocks of knowing chocolate sin. While other cakes are expected to be perfectly iced in a careful swirl and topped with delicately sculpted flowers and silky smooth fondant, brownies are a sensational exception. The rebels of the cake world, they are allowed to ooze and crumble, staining your plate with a telltale chocolate smudge.

So joyous are brownies that they have spread to brighten up other desserts. From cookie dough topped with brownie, to brownie cheesecake, brownie sundaes and brownie ice cream, these traditional childhood treats have conquered the world as the ultimate comfort food. So next time the work piles up and the rain comes down, reach for the chocolate, marshmallows and mixer and make some magic.