Rich Chocolate and Walnut Brownie Cake

Brittney_B's Note:

This rich cake has a chewy crisp crust just like a brownie. It's soft melt-in-your-mouth centre is speckled with delicious chocolate chips and walnuts making it a perfectly indulgent treat. The long baking time is what gives this cake its crunchy outer crust and moist centre so don't let it put you off! For a twist, halve the baking time and try using muffin tins for smaller portable treats.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 30 mins
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs

Ingredients:

Servings: 20

• 2 cups walnuts
• 225 g butter
• 500 g dark cooking chocolate
• 1 ½ cups brown sugar
• 1 cup white sugar
• 6 eggs
• 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 ½ cups plain flour
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup milk chocolate chips
• icing sugar , to serve

Directions:

1. Roast the walnuts in an oven set at 180°C for 10 minutes or until lightly toasted and skins have begun to crack.
2. Allow the walnuts to cool then coarsely chop and set aside.
3. Melt the butter and dark chocolate in a microwave container and stir until smooth . Allow mixture to cool slightly then transfer to a large bowl.
4. Add the brown sugar and white sugar to the chocolate mixture and stir.
5. Add the eggs and vanilla extract to the bowl and stir.
6. Stir in the flour, salt, walnuts and chocolate chips. Mixture should be quite thick.
7. Grease and line a 20cm round cake tin, pour in cake mixture and then smooth the surface.
8. Bake in a fan-forced oven at 180°C for between 1 hour to 1 hour and 20 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
9. Allow cake to cool in the tin before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
10. Serve dusted with icing sugar.