Fudgy Chocolate Brownies

• 170 g unsalted butter
• 200 g dark chocolate, chopped
• 200 g sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 90 g all-purpose flour
• 30 g cocoa powder
• ½ tsp salt
• Flaky salt, for the top (optional)

Method

1. 01Heat the oven to 175°C (350°F). Line a 20 cm square pan with parchment, leaving an overhang to lift the brownies out.
2. 02Melt the butter and chocolate together in a bowl set over simmering water, or in the microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring until smooth. Let it cool for 5 minutes.
3. 03Whisk the sugar into the chocolate, then beat in the eggs one at a time and the vanilla. Whisk hard for 1 minute until the batter is glossy.
4. 04Sift in the flour, cocoa and salt and fold until just combined.
5. 05Spread into the pan and sprinkle with flaky salt. Bake for 25 minutes, until the top is set and a skewer comes out with moist crumbs.
6. 06Cool completely in the pan before cutting into 16 squares. They firm up as they cool.