Orange Almond Brownies

Sometimes, I really wonder about my girls. They are growing up at a pace that I have no control over. My younger one will turn 7 this January and I am still yearning for her to go back into her diapers! Those who read my blog regularly or follow me on other social media, know that I am working, with an 8 to 5 work schedule. Many also know that I now go for regular workouts during my working days, taking a break from it on Thursdays and Fridays. This means that by the time I am home after all the traffic, it is past 8 pm and at the bottom of my energy level. All I would want is to eat something, feed the kids and then push them off to sleep. Sometimes, I forget that they are children and I be at my worst behavior, screaming when they don’t listen, sometimes even pulling out the cane if I feel they are acting lousy.

That is the main catch – when “I” feel. The kids maybe doing it at their own pace, but for me, it is never enough, because the only thought on my mind is to fall off to bed. During one of these weekends, as we were waiting for HD to complete some work, we walked towards the nearest hypermarket to pick up something to munch on. As we were walking, Azza told me, “Ummi, don’t walk on the road!” Rasha followed through, “Ummi, if a car hits you, then who will we have?” 🙂 I just curtly replied, “Your abba will marry somebody else and bring you a new and better ummi.” (I hope HD doesn’t read this! 😀 ) The look on their face changed all of a sudden. Then Rasha said, “We only want you.” Azza also seconded it. I asked them, “But ummi is bad, no? I am always mood off, I always shout at you and also beat you at times.” Then Azza held my hand tight and said, “But ummi, you are behaving like that only when we are bad girls, not when we are good girls!” I didn’t know what to tell her. She actually poked my guilt pang even more by blaming their bad behavior for my bad mood. 🙁 I was actually surprised and saddened at the same time by her thoughts, it just told me that I have to keep watch of myself even more now not to make them feel all the time that they are a reason for my lousy behavior. How many of you agree to my point of thought?

Let’s come to these brownies now. I love the combination of chocolate and orange. It is a definitely a match made in foodie heaven. I can easily say that one of my favorite cakes is this Chocolate Orange Cake. Making a brownie with this combination was always on my cards and when I found this recipe, I had to make it. I don’t know why most of the time when you search for orange bake recipes, they would just have orange zest in it. I don’t understand the logic behind it. For me, when it is orange, it has to be orangey all way in and out. The juice has to be there, the zest has to be there. Then only I can call it an orange dessert. Otherwise, how could you call it that way? That was the same thought when I was making my Orange Choco-chip Biscottis too.

I love that this recipe uses olive oil instead of butter. Even the process of making it is slightly different from the brownies I have tried. But whatever said and done, each bite of this brownie will scream orange to you. That is how an orange dessert has to be – with full-on orange flavors! 🙂 I have topped them with a generous sprinkling of crushed almonds, so it would feel like you are having a Lindt Dark Chocolate with Orange that has those bites of almonds in the between! 😉 Off to the recipe…

5 from 1 vote

Orange Almond Brownies

Course Brownies

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 50 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour

Servings 8

Author Rafeeda

Ingredients

• 80 gm dark chocolate
• 3 large eggs room temperature
• 2/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 4 tbsp cocoa powder
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1 tbsp orange zest grated
• 1/3 cup crushed almonds

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Line and grease an 8 inch brownie pan.
• Melt the chocolate and set aside.
• Beat the eggs and sugar till creamy. Add in the olive oil, orange juice and melted chocolate and beat till combined.
• Sift in the flour, cocoa powder and baking powder and fold till moist.
• Fold in the orange zest. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and sprinkle the chopped almonds.
• Bake for 30-40 minutes till the top looks cooked.
• Cool off in pan. Pull out the parchment paper and cut into squares.