The Ultimate Chocolate Brownie

2  cups		chopped dates
1  teaspoon		baking soda
1  cup		boiling water
200  grams		/ 6½ oz finely diced butter, at room temperature
4		eggs
2  teaspoons		vanilla extract
2  cups		caster sugar / superfine sugar
1  cup		dark cocoa, sifted
1  cup		flour
1  teaspoon		baking powder
8  ounces		dark chocolate

Tip: Click on the ingredient links to learn the nutritional information for all the The Ultimate Chocolate Brownie ingredients. The serving size for any ingredient in The Ultimate Chocolate Brownie may be adjusted using the nutrition facts serving size calculator. Use it to help cut calories, carbs and more from your recipes.

Preheat oven to 160°C / 325°F and line a 30cm x 24cm / 12 inch x 9 inch slice tin with baking paper.

Put dates in a large bowl, add baking soda and boiling water and stir to combine. Add finely diced butter and stir until melted. Leave to stand for 20 minutes.

Mash softened dates with a fork to break them up to a creamy consistency. Stir in the eggs and vanilla until well combined. Stir in the sugar, then add the cocoa, flour and baking powder and stir until smooth. Stir in the chocolate chips or chunks.

Smooth into prepared tin and bake until it is set in the middle and begins to come away from the sides of the tin (about 50 minutes). Cool before cutting into squares. Stored in a sealed container it will keep for a couple of weeks.