As we have just hired our wonderful new brownie baker, we wanted to take the opportunity to get to know her a little bit better and it's a chance for you to find out a bit more about her too. So we've written a Q&A for Bryony, with all of the questions we wanted to get answers to.
Tell us a little bit about yourself
I’ve just graduated from the University of Surrey with a degree in Nutrition. Though this sounds contradictory, I am a massive foodie and know how important it is to have a healthy relationship with food. This means you are most definitely allowed to treat yourself while still being healthy, especially if that treat is brownies.
What do you love about baking?
Homemade bakes indefinitely beat the processed shop-bought ones and I have always used my Nanny’s recipes, but I started developing them as I’ve got older to add my own flare. I love trying out new things even if they don’t always go to plan straight away and seeing people enjoy the things I’ve made is a big bonus!
How did you get started when you first wanted to bake brownies?
As mentioned, my Nanny provided me with her original recipe and I tried out a number of other recipes alongside this to find what gives what tastes and textures which I tweaked to provide the best final product for me.
How long have you been baking brownies for?
I can’t put an accurate timescale on it – but roughly I probably started making brownies as a big hobby when I was about 14. I’m sure my school friends would back me up on how much they loved them.
Do you have any top tips for making the perfect brownies?
Beat your sugar and eggs on high speed for a few minutes to give a nice foamy mixture at the start and you’ll get that lovely crackly top when you bake them!
What’s your favourite brownie flavour?
Chocolate orange by far!
Chewy brownies or Cakey brownies – which are better and why?
Chewy – though you definitely need the balance in between. Nothing too much like a piece of fudge but nothing like a piece of chocolate cake.
How do you come up with new brownie flavour combinations?
I often see something in the cupboard and think that might be a good idea to try it. Then I add different ingredients to my traditional recipe and see what flavours work best. It’s a case of trial and error with new flavours but they always turn out right in the end.
What feedback have you been given on your brownies in the past?
Chocolate orange has always been a big hit with most people, as well as Kinder Bueno. The traditional brownies go down well slightly warmed in the microwave with ice-cream.