Christmas brownies

A Christmas treat for chocolate fans! These festive brownies are laced with brandy-soaked
cranberries, pecans and mixed spice.

Ingredients

30ml/1fl oz brandy
100g/3oz dried cranberries

300g/10oz dark chocolate, broken into chunks

200g/7oz butter

4 free-range eggs

300g/10oz light muscovado sugar (brown sugar)

200g/7oz plain flour

1 tsp mixed spice (mixture of nutmeg, clove, ginger and cinnamon)

100g/3oz pecans, roughly chopped

icing sugar, to serve

Preparation method
1.
Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4 and line a 30x20cm/12x8in tin with baking
parchment.
2.
Gently heat the brandy then add the cranberries and leave to soak while you
prepare the brownie mix.
3.
Melt the chocolate and butter in a bowl over a pan of simmering water, or in the
microwave. Stir gently until smooth then set aside to cool slightly.
4.

In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and sugar until pale and fluffy.

5.
Whisk the chocolate and butter mix into the eggs then gently fold in the flour,
mixed spice, pecans, cranberries and brandy until fully incorporated.
6.
Pour into the prepared tin, smooth the surface then bake in the oven for 25-30
minutes, or until the brownie is firm to the touch.
7.
Leave to cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then place on a wire rack until cooled
completely.
8.

Once cool, cut into squares and dust the tops with icing sugar.