Description
Chocolate, orange and mince pie brownies are a festive treat combining fudgy rich dark chocolate brownies with zesty orange notes and traditional spiced mince pie filling. Perfect for sharing during winter holidays, they deliver moist, chewy bites bursting with seasonal flavors and a delightful fruit surprise.
Ingredients
Scale
Chocolate and Citrus
- 200g high-quality dark chocolate (70% cocoa or higher), chopped
- Zest of 1 large orange
- 2 tbsp freshly squeezed orange juice
Mince Pie Filling
- 150g spiced mince pie filling (canned or homemade)
Dairy and Sweeteners
- 150g unsalted butter, softened
- 200g granulated sugar
Dry Ingredients
- 125g all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour blend for GF option)
- ½ tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
Other
- 3 large eggs (or 3 flax eggs for vegan variation)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare your ingredients: Gather all your ingredients, grate the orange zest finely, chop the chocolate into small pieces, and make sure your butter is softened for easy mixing.
- Melt chocolate and butter: Use a heatproof bowl over simmering water or carefully microwave in short bursts, stirring often until smooth and glossy, combining the butter and chocolate perfectly.
- Mix wet ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together sugar and eggs until light and fluffy, then stir in vanilla extract and freshly squeezed orange juice for zingy freshness.
- Combine dry ingredients: Sift flour, baking powder, and your choice of spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves into a bowl, ensuring even distribution for moisture and flavor balance.
- Fold the ingredients: Carefully fold the dry mix into the wet mixture, then gently mix in the melted chocolate blend and orange zest for an even batter with bursts of citrus flavor.
- Add the mince pie filling: Gently swirl or fold in the spiced mince pie filling so it pockets throughout the brownie batter, creating delightful surprises in every slice.
- Bake until just set: Pour the batter into a lined baking pan and bake at 175°C (350°F) for 25-30 minutes, checking doneness with a toothpick to keep the fudgy center intact.
- Cool and enjoy: Let the brownies cool completely before cutting to firm up and allow those festive flavors to meld beautifully.
Notes
- Use quality chocolate with at least 70% cocoa for rich depth.
- Don’t overmix batter; folding gently preserves fudgy texture.
- Adjust baking time to keep a moist center; toothpick should show moist crumbs.
- Allow brownies to cool fully before slicing for cleaner cuts and better flavor.
- Taste mince pie filling before use and reduce added sugar if it’s very sweet.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British/Western
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 brownie (approx. 60g)
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 27g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
Keywords: chocolate brownies, mince pie, orange zest, holiday dessert, festive brownies, Christmas treat, gluten-free brownies, vegan option, spiced brownies
