The Ultimate Chocolate Brownie

2  cups		chopped dates
1  teaspoon		baking soda
1  cup		boiling water
200  grams		/ 6½ oz finely diced butter, at room temperature
4		eggs
2  teaspoons		vanilla extract
2  cups		caster sugar / superfine sugar
1  cup		dark cocoa, sifted
1  cup		flour
1  teaspoon		baking powder
8  ounces		dark chocolate

Tip: For nutritional information on all the ingredients in The Ultimate Chocolate Brownie just click on each ingredient name. Then adjust the serving size for any The Ultimate Chocolate Brownie ingredient with the serving size tool in the nutrition facts area to the right to see how you can save calories, carbs and more.

Preheat oven to 160°C / 325°F and line a 30cm x 24cm / 12 inch x 9 inch slice tin with baking paper.

Put dates in a large bowl, add baking soda and boiling water and stir to combine. Add finely diced butter and stir until melted. Leave to stand for 20 minutes.

Mash softened dates with a fork to break them up to a creamy consistency. Stir in the eggs and vanilla until well combined. Stir in the sugar, then add the cocoa, flour and baking powder and stir until smooth. Stir in the chocolate chips or chunks.

Smooth into prepared tin and bake until it is set in the middle and begins to come away from the sides of the tin (about 50 minutes). Cool before cutting into squares. Stored in a sealed container it will keep for a couple of weeks.