Squidgy Malt Loaf

Recipe adapted from Bangers & Mash

Squidgy Malt Loaf

Ingredients:
75ml hot black tea
90g malt extract
10g black treacle
10g golden syrup
25g demerara sugar
50g sultanas
50g dried figs, chopped
25g dried cranberries
25g dried blueberries
1 egg, beaten
125g plain flour
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda


Method:
1. Grease and line a 450g loaf pan. Preheat the oven to 150C/300F/mark 2.

2. Combine together the tea, malt extract, black treacle, golden syrup, demerara sugar, sultanas, figs, cranberries and blueberries in a large bowl. Mix in the egg, then sift over the flour, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda and fold to combine.

3. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, bicarbonate of soda, salt ad cinnamon. Gradually fold into the wet ingredients. Briefly mix until there are no more flour pockets, then fold in the pecans. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes, cover with foil, then continue to bake for a further 30-35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes away clean.

4. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 50 minutes, until firm, slightly risen and a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Remove from the oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool a little. Brush some golden syrup over the top and leave to cool completely.

Peanut butter truffle brownies

Recipe from Half Baked Harvest

Peanut butter truffle brownies

Ingredients:

For brownie layer:

140g (10 tbsp) unsalted butter

57g milk chocolate, chopped

200g (1 cup) granulated sugar

1tbsp instant coffee

2tsp vanilla extract

1tbsp kahlua (optional)

2 eggs

43g (½ cup) cocoa

80g (½ cup) plain flour

¼ tsp salt

113g milk chocolate, chopped

For the peanut butter ganache:

85g plain chocolate, chopped

3tbsp double cream

2tbsp smooth peanut butter

½ tbsp kahlua (optional)

To decorate:

85g milk chocolate, chopped

     

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 170C/325F/mark 3. Line an 8x8 or 9x9 inch pan with baking pan, letting the edges hang over the side.

2. For the brownie layer, add the butter and 56g milk chocolate to a bowl and microwave or set over a pan of simmering water to melt. Add the coffee, vanilla, kahlua (if using) and egg and whisk until smooth and well combined.

3. Sift together the cocoa, flour and salt and fold into the chocolate mixture. Stir in the remaining chopped chocolate and pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 25-30 minutes, until the top has set. Leave to cool in the pan for 5 minutes before removing from the pan.

4. For the ganache, add the cream to a heatproof bowl and bring to a simmer by microwaving or setting over a pan of simmering water. Stir in the chopped plain chocolate and mix together until the chocolate has melted. Add the peanut butter and kahlua (if using) and mix to combine.

5. Pour the ganache over the top of the brownies and smooth out. Melt the milk chocolate and drizzle over the top. Leave the brownies for 2 hours to set at room temperature (or 1 hour in the fridge) before slicing into squares.