Rye Chocolate Brownies
Ingredients (makes 12)
150grams butter
150 grams dark chocolate (at least 60-70 per cent cocoa solids) broken into pieces
100grams of cocoa powder
200grams of rye flour
200grams of coconut sugar
Half a cup of maple syrup
3 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp of sea salt
Tasty & easy to make.
Instructions
Preheat the oven at 180C/ Gas 4. Line a 20 x 30 cm baking tin with greased parchment paper.
In a heatproof bowl, melt together the butter & the chocolate over a pan of boiling water & take off the heat. Allow the mixture to rest, stirring occasionally as it melts.
In the bowl whisk together the sugar, maple syrup, eggs & vanilla extract until light & fluffy. Slowly add the melted chocolate, followed by the dry ingredients, then pour into the prepared baking tin.
Smooth the top with a palette knife or spatula & sprinkle with sea salt.
Bake for 20 minutes, until the brownies are set with a slight wobble. Leave to cool completely in the tin before cutting into 12 thick equal squares. These are best eaten after baking.
Benefits
Rye flour is perfect for this recipe as it is has a rich, denser texture. It differs from other grains because it has more health benefits.
Rye is one of the three gluten grains along with wheat & barley. However it is digested differently to other flours & studies suggest it is a cholesterol lowering food & improves insulin sensitivity & contains more fibre, & less calories to wheat flour.
Dark chocolate is considered a “superfood” because it has a host of wonderful health benefits ranging from protection from disease causing free radicals, which are found in the flavonoids & polyphenols. Dark chocolate also has been shown to be good for reducing bad cholesterol & increasing good cholesterol.
It also offers protection from free radicals, cancer prevention, improving heart health & cognitive function. Supporting the reduction of blood pressure.
Coconut sugar is a natural sweetener & it has the some wonderful benefits that make it a better choice than other sweetener options. It contains some trace vitamins & minerals such as iron, zinc, calcium & potassium. It also benefits from natural fibre called inulin.
I used maple syrup, which is sourced from the sap from a maple tree & contains up to 24 different antioxidants. These antioxidants are known as phenolic compounds, which help reduce free radical damage.
Maple syrup has a lower score on the glycemic index & is a natural sugar, however please note that eating too much sweetener of any kind is not a good idea & can lead to weight gain.
These delicious brownies are not vegan but they are a great alternative to the standard brownie recipes available & really do taste amazing.
