One of the queries that I frequently get through mails/comments is about baking in Microwave (MW). I do not bake in MW, so I was unable to give satisfactory answers to those queries. Since the queries kept coming, I had to find a way. What better way than to ask somebody who uses MW for baking, that too an expert at it, to clarify all these doubts, right?.
The first person came to my mind was Divya of Easycooking. I'm sure you have seen her beautiful blog loaded with all those wonderful baked goodies. I remember reading in her blog that she uses MW for baking. Sent her a mail and she was kind enough to do it. Thanks a lot Divs, for taking time to do this.
Btw, I'm not sure whether you remember… Divs and me were batch mates in college for 5 years! Though we studied different subjects at that time, little did we know that both of us would end up doing the same thing later in life, food blogging :) I do hope this posts help you with all your MW baking related doubts. If you do have any additional doubts/queries, please post it in the comments section. Divs has agreed to answer it for you, isnt that great?
Over to Divs now…
Some time back,Maria asked me to do a guest post on her blog.I start panicking when someone asks me for a guest post.Reason being,it has to be on par with the posts on that particular blog and it should entertain the readers in a similar way(if not same)like the author's own posts.Now that is a difficult thing to achieve,right?Especially with a blog like Maria's!
Maria,of Mariasmenu is more than a fellow blogger to me.We've studied together in the same college for 5 years without knowing that few years later,we'll connect again through food blogging.I'd been following Mariasmenu much before I started blogging without knowing that she is actually my fellow college mate!
For the same reason,I am hoping that she'd forgive me for taking so long to do this for her.I hope I can do justice to your blog readers Maria.–
Double Chocolate Brownies and some Microwave FAQ's.
Baking intimidates many,including me.Yes,it happens to me too.The only aspect of baking I do not like is that,it can put you in your place sometimes.One day,you'll be all confident and bake a delicious cake or cookie and another day,it will fall flat on you.Or is it only me?
Such times,to pull me back into my baking spree,I resort to simple and easy recipes.This is one such recipe.Baking brownies is apparently an easy step into baking.I say apparently because,to get perfect brownies,I've had to try a lot of recipes.Once you get the hang of it though,there's just no stopping.I mean,who can resist sinful chocolate brownies with a dash of chocolate sauce and some ice-cream on the side?NO one,I know.
I've chosen a very simple brownie that you can whip up in no time.It is a basic recipe in which you can add your own twists.As usual,the recipe is from Joy of Baking which by itself makes it a no-fail recipe:)
Recipe source – Joy of Baking
Here are the step by step pictures…
Grease and line an 8′ square baking tin.Preheat oven to 190C. In a Micro-proof bowl add butter and chocolate and microwave on full power for 1 minute.Stir the mix till the chocolate is melted.If any chocolate chunks remain,microwave for another 30 seconds.(you can do this on stove top too by double boiling the bowl of chocolate and butter).
Mix in the instant coffee powder,cocoa powder and caster sugar and beat.
Add in the eggs one by one,beating well after each addition.Stir in the vanilla. Add flour,salt and beat well. Fold in the chocolate chips and walnuts and give a final mix.
Yes.. I have been using this recipe since 5-6 years and all of us in our family are fans of these brownies. Just one query – during winters – the butter we use in the brownies solidify after the brownies are made and makes the texture hard – unless we warm it up in the microwave. Can we use refined oil instead of butter? Thanks Deepa
Hi Deepa,
Great to know that this recipe is your family fav, thank you! I haven’t tried it with oil, so am not sure how it will be.
Cheers
Maria
I have made these brownies multiple times and they’ve never failed to turn out well.
I was wondering if I could use the same recipie for a white chocolate brownie. What changes would I need to make if I do not want it to be sweeter than the usual dark chocolate ones?
Hi Teresala,
Thank you! Good to know that you like this recipe. I havent tried with white chocolate. But I guess, you may need to cut down the qty of sugar, since white choc tends to be sweeter.
hi maria can i use silicon cake tin for this recipe?? for the silicon cake tin i need temperature and timings
Hi Rupesh,
I think you can use it. However I’ve never tried baking in silicone, so I’m not familiar with it :(
Cheers
Maria
Hi maria,
Hatsoff to u for this lovely blog.i have tried many of ur recipes.my biggest hit of urs is mutton biriyani. I have a doubt. While baking cakes in electric oven which setting to use.bottom only or top and bottom. Pls do reply .
Regards
Cynthia Chris
Thank you so much Cynthia for your feedback :) Great to know that the recipes worked out well for you..
I use both top and bottom for baking cakes.
Cheers
Maria
Hi, Just a small doubt – There is no baking powder or baking soda in this recipe! is that ok? Also, can I use regular powdered sugar instead of castor sugar? Thanks Deepa
Hi Deepa,
This particular recipe doesnt call for baking powder or soda. Also instead of using powdered sugar, just run the regular sugar in blender for a few seconds.
Hope you get to try this and like it too.
Sorry for the delayed reply, I was away on vacation..
Cheers
Maria
It’s ok, no probs :) Glad that it worked out well for you :)
yikes!! i just realised i have no cocoa powder after microwaving the butter and chocolate.. is there any way that i can make it without coca powder?? :(
Hi Keerti,
Sorry for such a delayed reply. I was away on a holiday.
I dont think there isnt a way to make it without cocoa powder. So what did you do with it?
maria what is it that you used to line the tin– aluminium foil on outside and wax paper inside?? :) :)
Hi Keerti,
This was a guest post by one of my friends. I think she has used al.foil to line the tin. It’s just inside the tin.
hi maria,
tried your double chocolate brownies. they were lovely!!!!
the pictures helped a lot too!!!! thanku
Thanks a lot Sally :)
Very well said..Thank you so much..Dont know how i missed this part..Because all most everything in marias menu i have read ..In other words..arachu kalakki kudichittundu.. :) Thanks a lot maria for this ..special thanks to divya for the valuable information..All the Best wishes..MARIAS MENU nu ente Thumbs up :)
Thanks Tina :) Hope all your MW baking doubts are clear now..
Thanks Tina :) Hope all your MW baking doubts are clear now..
Thanks very much for this, really looks easy. But my query is in my Microwave Convention (Samsung) it takes usually approx 5Mins for Cake. Please tell me how to manage the timing as given here ? Can you pl help ?
I am guessing it takes 5 minutes for a cake to bake in the MW mode,right?In Convection baking,preheat the oven,set the temperature and then bake for the time mentioned in the recipe.
Yummy brownies! It was really simple and yet so delicious! Thank you Maria & Divya ! :)
You are welcome dear :)
i’ve tried this recipe…………..
yum!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! my friends too liked it a lot……was jus great..
thnx..
Thank you Sachin :)
Great of you Maria to think of getting guest post to help your blog readers :) It helps
Thanks Greeshma! Happy to know that you found it useful :)
Hi Divya In What utensils should be used in the microwave u ve mentioned that metal thin can be used in mocrowave but whn i searched in net they said not use. Can u please clarify….
If you are using the convection mode in the Microwave,you can safely use metal tins/non stick baking pans etc since in the convection mode there are no microwave rays.However,you can not use the same if you are using the microwave mode.
Tried this….this was awesome….Thanks for the recipe….Keep posting more of this kind….
Simple to make & delicious to eat….:)
Hi Anu,
Nice to know that you liked this recipe :) Thanks for the comment. Will try to post these kind of recipes..
Cheers
Maria
Hi Divya and Maria,
I have been following both your posts since some time. Thanks a ton fo your recipes.
I have a query. I use MW. I don’t have any problem in baking cake in MW, but bread… That is something I am disheartened about. I tried twice, both the times, my bread turned out to be rock hard! Any advice for this problem?
Ceby
Hi Ceby,I really haven’t baked any bread in my MW yet,so can’t help you with the query,sorry!
lovely bownies and this is my first time to maria’s menu, glad to follow you. Lovely guest post dears. Do visit me
Priya
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