I used to joke all the time about the possibility of having leftover candy. Because how can one have leftover candy? Well, whether you have some leftover candy bars, or you simply want to make a pan of rich, delicious brownies, this is the recipe for you. These brownies are egg-free, with a vegan and even a gluten-free option. If you do want to make them vegan, be sure to use sweets that are also vegan; and the same goes for gluten-free.
When they come out of the oven, they will be too soft to cut up and serve, so be sure to let them cool down completely, or even leave them for a few hours in the refrigerator. They will firm up, and you will be able to get nice, clean cuts for serving. Because they are so very rich, they do not need any other toppings, and I do recommend you serve them with a tall glass of milk, or a cup of strong coffee.
Ingredients
120 grams plain flour
30 grams unsweetened cocoa powder
20 grams cornflour
½ teaspoon baking powder
150 grams light brown sugar
250 ml whole milk
75 ml vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste
2 teaspoons dark rum
8-10 standard size caramel (nougat) candy bars
Preparation
Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, cornflour, and the baking powder into a large bowl, then add in the light brown sugar, and whisk well. In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, oil, rum, and the vanilla bean paste. Pour wet ingredients over the dry ingredients, and whisk until just combined. The batter will be runny at this point. Take a square baking pan (20x20 cm), and line it well with baking paper.
Pour in the batter and slightly shake the pan so it distributes itself evenly. Unwrap the candy bars and arrange them over the top of the batter, then bake in a preheated oven, at 170˚C (340˚F), for 18-20 minutes. Check for doneness even before that, so they do not overbake. Remove the pan from the oven, and let them cool completely before cutting, this will ensure nice, clean cuts. Yields 16 brownie squares.
Baker's note: If you are going for the vegan option, make sure you use a non-dairy milk of your choice, and vegan candy. And if you wish to make these gluten-free, use the cup-for-cup gluten-free flour, as well as gluten-free candy, cornflour, and other ingredients.
