Chocolate & Orange Brownie

Ingredients

70g / 2 ½ oz butter
50g / 2 oz good-quality (85% cocoa solids) chocolate
50g / 2 oz caster sugar
70g / 2 ½ oz self-raising whole meal flour
pinch of salt
2 eggs, beaten
½ teaspoon vanilla essence
juice and grated zest of 1 orange
25g / 1 oz chopped dried apricots
25g / 1oz chopped dates

Method

Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas 4. Grease and flour a 20cm/8 inch square shallow tin.

Melt the butter and chocolate together in a bowl over a saucepan of hot water and stir in the sugar.

Sift the flour and salt into a bowl and stir in the chocolate mixture, beaten eggs and the remaining ingredients.

Beat the mixture until smooth, then spoon into the prepared tin.

Bake for about 35 minutes.

Leave in the tin to cool slightly before cutting into squares.

These fabulous, moist brownies are made with wholemeal flour, which slows down the absorption of sugar into the body. With the dates this is, amazingly, a high fibre treat that could be served as a snack or a dessert, with ice cream.