Updates | WWF

Recipe: Planet-friendly chocolate brownies

Written by Joe Dix | Jul 6, 2019 11:00:00 AM

Tuesday, 7th July is World Chocolate Day. To celebrate this day, we're sharing our recipe for these sustainable, environmentally-friendly chocolate brownies. They're soft, gooey, and - best of all - good for the planet!

  • Takes 40-50 Minutes
  • Serves up-to 12

Method


STEP 1: Buying ingredients


Choose products that have come from sustainable sources:

  • Seek out products with Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance, or UTZ certifications. These labels demonstrate that the product has had a reduced environmental impact.
  • Look out for the RSPO logo. This can also be used to demonstrate that a product has only used sustainable palm oil.
  • Chose sugar which has the Bonsucro certification label. This means the producer has met the required criteria that demonstrate they've reduced the environmental and social impacts of their sugarcane production.

👉 Eco tip:  Look for products that come in recycled, recyclable and reusable packaging. Wherever possible avoid single-use plastics.


STEP 2: Prep


  • Line your baking tin with baking paper.
  • Set your oven to 160°C / 320°F (180°C / 356°F  for fan ovens) or gas 4.

👉 Eco tip: Only start to pre-heat your oven shortly before you are ready to put your brownie batter in. This will save energy
👉 Eco tip: Check out one of the many eco-friendly baking paper alternatives available which can either be reused or recycled (traditional baking paper can't be recycled). 


STEP 3: Melting the chocolate

👉 Eco tip:  Dark chocolate can be more environmentally friendly and healthy than milk chocolate. No milk is used, reducing the impact caused by dairy farming, and there’s less sugar than milk chocolate. It’s even been linked to lowering blood pressure and the risk of heart disease.

👉 Eco tip:  Choose chocolate and cocoa that has come from sustainable sources - seek out products with Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance, or UTZ certifications, signifying that the producer has met the required criteria to demonstrate their product has a decreased environmental impact and improves the lives of farmers.



  • Chop chocolate into small chunks and add ~7 tablespoons of coconut oil
  • Melt in a bowl set over a pan of simmering water.
  • Cool to room temperature.

👉 Eco tip: Smaller chocolate chunks will melt faster and require less energy.
👉 Eco tip: Coconut oil is a useful vegan substitute for butter


STEP 4: Mash your bananas and mix in your flax eggs (4 servings)

👉 Eco tip:  Flax eggs are a great vegan alternative for regular chicken eggs. To make one serving of flax eggs, mix one tablespoon ground flaxseed with three tablespoons of water.



  • Mash your banana with a fork or potato masher.
  • Whisk your sugar and flax eggs until the mixture is light & fluffy.
  • Fold your mashed banana into the mixture.


STEP 5: Folding it together


  • Fold chocolate and flax egg mixtures together.
  • Sift in the cocoa, baking powder and flour.
  • Fold these all into the chocolate and flax egg mixture to create a batter.


STEP 6: Bake


  • Pour your batter into the tin and bake for 25-30 minutes or until the top is cracked but the middle just set.
  • Cool before you remove it from the tin and cut.

👉 Eco tip: If possible, try to observe your progress without opening the oven door. Each time the oven is opened, heat is lost - requiring more energy in the long-run. 


STEP 7: Enjoy!

 
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