An easy Eggless Brownies Recipe made with cocoa powder, whole wheat flour (or add atta that is used for making roti or chapati), sugar, baking powder and oil. So, the recipe is also a bit healthier and is vegan too.
Grease a 7 x 2 inches square baking pan with some oil or softened butter if you like.
First measure all the ingredients and keep them ready.
In a mixing bowl or pan, take whole wheat flour, baking powder and a pinch of salt.
With a whisk, mix everything very well. You can even sift this flour mixture if you want. Keep aside. Preheat the oven at 200° C/392° F for 15 minutes.
Making cocoa solution
Take 1 cup water in a pan and heat it on a low to medium flame.
When the water become hot (but not boiling), lower the heat and then add sugar, cocoa powder and then add oil.
With a spatula begin to mix everything very well. The sugar should dissolve and the cocoa powder should mix evenly with water. With the spatula or whisk, break the lumps of cocoa powder if any.
Let this mixture come to a boil on medium-low heat.
Making chocolate brownie batter
Switch off the heat and add the bubbling hot cocoa mixture to the dry flour mixture.
Also add vanilla extract.
With a spatula or wired whisk, begin to mix both the wet and dry ingredients lightly.
The mixture will be hot, so be careful while mixing and also mix lightly. Do not over do. A few tiny flour specks in the batter are fine.
The brownie batter has a thick consistency and does not flow freely but loose (much like a halwa consistency).
If the batter looks too much thick, then the one showed in photo at step 15 above, then please add a few tablespoons of hot water and then mix again.
The water required depends on the quality of whole wheat flour. So please keep some hot water handy, if you need to add it.
Now place the brownie batter with the spatula in the baking pan.
Shake the pan, so that the batter spreads and evens out. Also using a spatula spread and make the batter even.
Baking Brownie
Bake brownie in the pre heated oven at 200° C/392° F for 30 to 40 minutes. Do not open the oven door till ¾ᵗʰ of the brownie is done. Since oven temperatures vary, do keep a check. In a convection oven, preheat as well as bake at 180° C/356° F.
Check with a tooth pick and if the tooth pick comes out clean, remove the pan from the oven.
Do not over bake the brownie as then the top will get dried out and become crusty.
Once the brownie becomes warm or cools down, you can remove it from the tray or you can slice in the baking pan itself.
Slice and serve chocolate brownies. If not serving immediately, then store in an airtight container in the fridge. In a cool and cold climate, you can keep these brownies outside at room temperature for 1 to 2 days.
While serving brownies, you can sprinkle some powdered sugar or confectioner's sugar on the top layer.
You can even serve the brownies with some chocolate or caramel syrup on top. Or make a dessert of vanilla ice cream served with the brownies.
Notes
Instead of oil, you can add 4 tablespoons of softened butter.
Use a good quality of cocoa powder.
Add more sugar if you prefer for a more sweeter tasting brownie.
Opt to make the chocolate brownie recipe with all-purpose flour instead of whole wheat flour.
I usually add sunflower oil. But, you can use olive oil or any other neutral flavored oil.
The amount of water to be added will vary with the quality and texture of whole wheat flour.
If using, stone ground or roller milled whole wheat flour, then do sift it twice with the baking powder.