Chunky Monkey Brownies

One of my favourite past-times is flicking through magazines.  My favourites are often in the range of home design and cooking, as I’ll always find inspiration from what colour I should paint the bedroom (we’re in the pre-renovation stages, I’m so excited!) or to what to cook for supper.  One of my favourite publications is one that is popular with vegans, Veg News, is always full of recipes that I mean to try (and do try, like that delicious Mac ‘n’ Cheeze I made not too long ago). In the May + June issue there was a column on dessert featuring a recipe for Chunky Monkey Brownies which instantly captured my attention.

These bars, albeit have an almost too-cutesy name, are chock full chocolate, banana chips, cashews (except not mine, I used walnuts instead) and coconut, lots of crunch layered on a thin yet fudgy and satisfying brownie. After taking these babies out of the oven I was a little sceptical as they appeared to have sunken a tiny bit but after waiting for them to cool, I sampled one and was not disappointed. These were everything I could hope for in a dessert bar, rich, chocolatey but with their addition of tropical goodness, they have a lot more depth than your average square. These have to be shared so since this issue’s supply is dwindling on the store shelves, I’m going to post the recipe for all those who were not able to read this article (maybe you don’t have access or maybe you haven’t given Veg News a try yet, why not? I think this recipe would push you do so).

Chunky Monkey Brownies by Beverly Lynn Bennet
Originally published in the May + June 2008 issue of Veg News

3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup safflower oil [I used canola]
1/4 cup water
1 tsp vanilla
2/3 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
2/3 cup cocoa powder
4 tsp arrowroot
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/3 cup dried banana chips, coarsely chopped
1/3 cup chocolate chips, coarsely chopped
2 tbs dried coconut, shredded

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly oil a 9-inch square pan [I used an 8 inch) and set aside.

2. In a medium bowl, stir together sugar, oil, water and vanilla. Sift in flour, cocoa powder, arrowroot, baking powder and salt. Stir well to combine.

3. Pour batter into prepared pan. Evenly scatter banana chips, chocolate chips, cashews and coconut over top and press gently with hands into the batter.

4. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until set in the centre. Allow brownies to cool completely before cutting into nine squares.
1/4 cup cashews, coarsely chopped [I used walnuts]