Black pepper brownies

Chocolate and black pepper can be a good mix in brownies, just try to bake one for yourself.

200g dark chocolate, minimum 70% cocoa solids
115g unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing
3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
3 large eggs
250g sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp black peppercorns, freshly ground
150g plain flour

Preheat the oven to 180C/gas 4, moving the rack to just below the middle of the oven.

Grease and line a 20cm square baking tin with baking parchment, using enough to hang over the sides.

Break the chocolate into small pieces and put it in a heatproof bowl with the butter. Place the bowl over a pan of steaming, but not quite simmering, water (make sure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the surface of the water) and stir until the chocolate and butter are melted and well combined. Gradually sprinkle in the cocoa powder and whisk until smooth. Remove from the heat and leave to cool slightly.

Beat together the eggs, sugar, vanilla extract, salt and ground pepper until well mixed. Gradually beat in the still-warm chocolate mixture, then stir in the flour, mixing well.

Pour into the prepared tin and bake for 35-40 minutes until a skewer inserted in the middle comes out very slightly sticky – brownies are meant to be gooey in the middle.

Leave the brownies in the tin until completely cool. Lift from the tin using the overhanging baking parchment. Slice into squares and serve.