Mulled Wine Brownie Surprise Recipes

MULLED WINE BROWNIES

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4, butter and line the base of a 20cm x 20cm brownie tin with parchment paper. Melt the chocolate in the microwave or in a glass bowl over a pan of simmering water.
• Mix the flour and cocoa powder together with the spices and a pinch of salt - set aside. Using an electric whisk, beat the butter and sugar together until super light and fluffy then whisk in the egg and yolk.
• Pour in melted chocolate, wine and flour mixture and whisk until just combined.
• Pour the batter into tin and bake for 15 mins until just set, don't worry if there is a slight wobble in the centre, it will set up as they cool. Put into the fridge to firm up.

MULLED WINE BROWNIE SURPRISE

Steps:

• First, make the chocolate domes. Melt the chocolates in the microwave or over a pan of simmering water, then leave to cool slightly. Meanwhile, blow up the balloons to around the size of a honeydew melon. Sit the base of each balloon in a glass and spray the top half with oil - this will ensure the chocolate dome comes off easily.
• One at a time, dip the sprayed end of the balloon into the cooled melted chocolate, turning the balloon to get an even coverage of chocolate. Sit the balloons chocolate half up in the glass. Repeat the process with the remaining balloons then leave to chill in the fridge for at least 4 hrs or overnight.
• Next, make the brownies. Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Butter and line the base of a 20 x 20cm baking tin with baking parchment. Melt the chocolate in the microwave or in a glass bowl over a pan of simmering water. Mix the flour and cocoa powder together with the spices and a pinch of salt, then set aside.
• Using an electric whisk, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, then whisk in the egg and yolk. Pour in melted chocolate, wine and flour mixture and whisk until just combined. Pour the batter into the tin and bake for 15 mins until just set. Don't worry if there's a wobble in the centre - it will set as they cool. Put in the fridge to firm up.
• For the butterscotch sauce, melt the butter in a heavy-based saucepan then tip in the sugar and cream, then whisk until well combined. Simmer for 5 mins, whisking occasionally, then remove from the heat and whisk in the vanilla and sea salt. Set aside to cool. All of these elements can be made the day before and kept in the fridge.
• To assemble, carefully pop each of the balloons with a pair of scissors, unravelling the balloon so that you are left with a chocolate dome. Carefully put them on a baking tray lined with baking parchment. Cut the brownies into nine portions. Put a piece of brownie on each plate, top each with a ball of ice cream, then top with a chocolate dome. Gently reheat the butterscotch sauce. At the table, pour the hot sauce over the dome for extra pizazz, to reveal the brownie inside.

MULLED WINE

Steps:

• Put sugar and water in a 5 quart heavy pot over medium-high heat and stir until all of the sugar dissolves. Scrape the vanilla seeds from the pod and add it to the pot along with the vanilla bean and rosemary. Slowly simmer for an additional 5 minutes at very low heat.
• Meanwhile, in a piece of cheesecloth place the cinnamon, cardamom and cloves in the center. Pull the four ends together and tie kitchen string around it to make a small pouch. Make sure to leave enough string to tie around the outside handle on the pot for easy removal. Add the spice pouch, wine, brandy and cut fruit. Let it simmer on low for about 1 hour. Never let it boil. Serve warm.

BROWNIES WITH A SURPRISE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt butter and chocolate together in a metal bowl over simmering water. Remove from over water and set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, eggs and vanilla. Whisk only to blend. Add chocolate mixture and whisk gently. Add flour and salt and use the whisk to stir in until blended. Grease a 12 by 12-inch square pan, and line the bottom with parchment. Pour a scant half of the brownie batter into pan and spread smooth. Place the 16 peanut butter cups upside-down onto the batter, spacing them evenly in 4 rows of 4 (the brownies will be cut into 16 squares, with a peanut butter cup in the center of each.) Push the cups down into the batter slightly. Top with the remaining batter and gently spread smooth. Bake 30 minutes. Center will still be soft. Remove from oven and let cool in pan on wire rack. Cool completely before cutting, or for best cutting results, chill several hours or overnight in refrigerator. Cut into 16 (3-inch) squares.

EASY MULLED WINE

Steps:

• Combine red wine, cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice, lemon peel, and orange peel in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Heat gently, but don't boil. Stir in 2 tablespoons of sugar, and once dissolved, taste to see if you'd like to add more.
• Keep hot on medium to low heat for 20 minutes to let the flavors infuse the wine. Serve your mulled wine hot in glasses or mugs.