These cookies & cream brownies are the perfect weekend treat

If you’re feeling a bit low or down in the dumps lately then this simple, cookies & cream brownie recipe, courtesy of Lorraine Pacale, is just what you need to help perk yourself up.

It really is the best recipe to whip up this weekend, or whenever a sweet tooth craving strikes, as it’s super simple to put together and is made up mostly of store-cupboard staples!

Not forgetting of course that these fudgy brownies pair beautifully with a cup of tea making those mid-morning snacks and afternoon coffee breaks an absolute dream.

Serves: 8-12

Prep time: 20 mins

Cook time: 25 mins

Ingredients:

165g (5.8oz) butter, plus extra for greasing

200g (7oz) dark chocolate, grated or finely chopped

3 eggs

2 egg yolks

Seeds of 1 vanilla pod, or 2 tsp vanilla extract

165g (5.8oz) soft light brown sugar

2 tbsp plain flour

1 tbsp cocoa powder

Pinch of salt

154g pack of oreo biscuits, broken into quarters

Icing sugar, for dusting

Method:

Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas 4, Gas Mark 6 with the middle shelf ready. Grease the baking tin, then line with baking paper with the paper overlapping the sides a little.

Melt the butter in a pan over a medium heat. When the butter has melted, remove the pan from the heat and add the grated chocolate. Leave to stand for a few minutes until the chocolate goes soft then stir together. Alternatively, you can put the chocolate and butter in a bowl and melt in the microwave in 25-second blasts, stirring well each time.

Whisk the eggs, egg yolks and vanilla together in a large bowl until they begin to get light and fluffy. Add the sugar in two additions whisking between each. Pour it around the side of the egg mix so as not to knock out the air that has been whisked into it. Keep whisking until the mixture becomes stiffer. Once the egg mixture is ready pour the chocolate into it, again around the sides so as not to knock the air out.

Add the flour, cocoa powder, salt and a third of the oreos and stir until fully combined, then pour the mixture into the prepared tin. Scatter the remaining oreos over the top, pressing them in slightly. Bake in the oven for 25–30 minutes. The middle should be very slightly gooey.

Leave the brownies to cool in the tin. The top will sink and crack a little. Pull the brownies out using the overlapping paper and cut the brownies into squares. Dust with icing sugar.

Tip: Depending on your cravings, you can always substitute oreos for toasted walnuts, pecans or sprinkle the brownies with honeycomb.