Fairtrade Surprise Chocolate Brownie -

Celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight by tucking into these Surprise Chocolate Brownies which have Fairtrade dates, bananas and cocoa in them. The recipe is below so give them a go.

For more sensational recipes visit the Vegetarian Society website at www.vegsoc.org

The surprise in these sweet, moist brownies is that they are egg and dairy free with only natural sugars, and are packed with goodness.

Fairtrade Surprise Chocolate Brownies

Makes 16

Preparation time: 35 mins

Cooking time: 25 mins

Suitable for vegans

Ingredients

225g Fairtrade dates

60g wholemeal flour

2 tsp baking powder

3 tbsp Fairtrade cocoa powder, sieved

100g vegan margarine

1 very ripe Fairtrade banana, mashed

75g Fairtrade walnuts, roughly chopped (optional)

1 tsp Fairtrade vanilla essence

Vegetable oil for greasing

Stage one

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas mark 4.

2. Place the Fairtrade dates in a medium saucepan with just enough water to cover them. Cook over a medium heat for 5 minutes or until soft.

3. Once the dates have cooked, drain off the hot water, and run them under a cold tap to cool.

4. Purée the dates. (A hand blender works well for puréeing).

Stage two

1. In a small mixing bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and Fairtrade cocoa powder, then set aside.

2. In a medium mixing bowl, using a fork, cream together the dates and the margarine until light and fluffy.

3. Stir the sifted flour, baking powder and cocoa powder into the date and margarine mixture.

4. Add the Fairtrade banana, nuts (optional) and vanilla essence.

Stage three

1. Lightly oil the baking dish, then evenly spread the mixture into it, smoothing the top with a spoon.

2. Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until the brownies start to come away from the sides of the dish.

3. Allow to cool in the pan, cut and serve.