Okay, let’s get serious… these chocolate orange brownies are a thing of beauty. When it comes to sweet tooth satisfaction, it doesn’t get much better than this!
If you’re a brownie fan and you’ve made plenty, this recipe knocks spots off those standard brownie recipes. If, on the other hand, you’ve never made homemade brownies, you’re going to be amazed at how easy it is and just how satisfying it is to make your own.
Products you need for this recipe
Before you get started baking up a batch of delicious chocolate orange brownies, there are a few key items you’ll need to equip your kitchen with.
- Wooden spoon – the best tool to mix and fold your brownie batter
- Silicone spatula – get every last teeny bit of your batter out of the mixing bowl with a flexible silicone spatula
- Mixing bowl – this should be part of every baker’s toolkit
- Large sharp knife –
- Stand mixer – your Terry’s chocolate orange brownies need well mixed batter to get the perfect consistency. I recommend using a quality stand mixer to whisk up your eggs and sugar
- Angostura orange bitters – this amazing ingredient adds an incredible depth of flavour to these chocolate orange brownies. It’s the ace up my sleeve that makes them extra special, so I really recommend getting hold of some
- Baking tray – simple chocolate orange brownies require a simple baking tray
Chocolate orange brownies recipe
Do you remember Dawn French in the old Terry’s Chocolate Orange adverts?
“They’re not Terry’s… they’re mine!”
That’s how I feel about these brownies. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good brownie. That fresh out of the oven warm gooey centre, mixed with the slightly crumbly outside. The pure deep chocolate taste that melts in your mouth and sends your taste buds into maximum overdrive.
These brownies, however, are a totally different proposition. I love chocolate orange recipes, and this one is one of the very best. Terry’s chocolate orange brownies are going to rock your world, trust me!
What’s more, making chocolate orange brownies is easy… your biggest problem is going to be stopping the family from nabbing them all.
The list of ingredients is pretty minimal and everything is easy to get hold of. You’ll need two types of chocolate for the brownie batter – dark chocolate to go alongside the Terry’s chocolate orange (dark works far better than milk chocolate).
You’ll also need the brownie basics – butter, caster sugar, plain flour and cocoa powder – as well as a little extra kick of orange, courtesy of Angostura orange bitters.
Why are they called brownies?
Boston baker Fanny Farmer is said to have coined the term “brownie” in her 1896 ‘Boston cooking school’ cookbook. These were molasses cakes made in individual tin molds. However, despite calling them brownies, Fanny’s desserts didn’t actually contain any chocolate.
In 1907, Maria Willet Howard took things to another level of lusciousness, taking Fanny’s recipe and adding chocolate to set the standard for what was to come. The true brownie was born and soon became the favourite dessert in the Northeastern U.S.
One thing’s for sure… brownies are a Boston invention.
What are Angostura orange bitters?
It’s a herbal alcoholic drink made from a combination of tropical oranges and spices that is used to add flavour to baked recipes and cocktails.
Flavours and aromas include orange (well, obviously) as well as clove, cinnamon, angelica root and glycerin.
How do I melt Terry’s Chocolate Orange?
Melting chocolate needs to be done over a low heat. The best way to do it is to use a bain-marie – a water bath. This way, you won’t burn the chocolate – burnt chocolate is pretty horrible and is enough to put you off the sweet stuff for a good while.
Don’t worry, melting chocolate over a bowl of water is simple. Just follow the instructions in the recipe below to get the perfect melted chocolate for your brownie batter.
You’ll also need to make sure your Terry’s chocolate orange segments are chopped up into smallish pieces.
Can I use a microwave to melt chocolate?
Yes you can. If you don’t want to melt the chocolate on the hob, you can use the quick and easy microwave method. Melt the chocolate in 30 second blasts, stirring in between each session.
Can I make these brownies without Terry’s Chocolate Orange?
This chocolate orange brownie recipe calls for Terry’s chocolate orange. You can, however, replace it with plain dark chocolate for the melted chocolate. Then add 3 teaspoons of orange extract and orange zest from one orange.
You’ll have to use plain old dark chocolate for the chunks, unless you can find some other orange chocolate.
Do brownies need baking powder?
Baking powder makes brownies ‘cakey’ rather than ‘fudgy.’ So, no, it’s not necessary to use baking powder or baking soda when making brownies.
Which chocolate should I use to make brownies?
Definitely go for a combination of dark and milk. This recipe gets the balance between milk chocolate orange and dark, so don’t be tempted to replace the dark with a milk chocolate, otherwise the consistency won’t be right.
What’s the best sugar to use?
For me, it’s caster sugar all the way. Some call for light brown or dark brown sugar to be used, but I much prefer caster sugar. This is because it whisks into the eggs better than other kinds of sugar.
Can I use oil in place of the butter?
Lots of chocolate orange brownie recipes use vegetable oil in place of butter. However, I think butter produces a far better consistency.
How do you know when brownies are done?
Brownie cooking times vary, depending on ingredients and the type of oven.
The best way to find out if your brownie is baked to perfection is to look for the first signs of cracking on the surface. When you see a few cracks on the top, which should have a little shine to it, take your baking tray out of the oven.
The centre of the brownie layer should be properly set and not wobbly. Insert a skewer or a toothpick into the centre – it should come out with a few moist crumbs on it. If you see wet brownie batter, it needs a few more minutes, so pop it back in the oven.
Do brownies harden as they cool?
Some brownies do… but not these babies.
You see, the trick is to add cocoa and butter into the mix. If you just make your brownies with chocolate, the cocoa butter in the chocolate will firm up at room temperature. Butter, on the other hand, stays soft. This means you’ll have nice and tender brownies once cooled.
How do you portion up brownies?
Firstly, you need to make sure your brownies are completely cool. If they’re hot and gooey, the knife won’t cut through them cleanly and you’ll run the risk of creating a big brownie mess.
Use a large sharp knife when slicing up your brownies and keep it clean while slicing, wiping it in between slices if necessary. When cutting the brownie block, push down firmly with the knife in order to get a clean cut.
Criss cross your brownie block, cutting the brownies to your preferred size.
How do you store chocolate orange brownies?
The best way to store your chocolate orange brownies is in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll keep fresh for 3-4 days.
How do you stop brownies from going dry?
There’s a little-known trick that keeps your brownies perfectly moist after baking. It involves bread. Yep, you read that correctly… bread!
Once you’ve allowed your brownies to cool, unless you’re going to eat them straight away, you’ll need to store them in an airtight container. When doing so, add a slice of bread into the container. This little trick works a charm – the brownies draw all the moisture from the bread to get them wonderfully moist.
You can even add a slice of bread to the tub to revive dry brownies!
Can you freeze chocolate orange brownies?
Absolutely! In fact, you can freeze any type of brownie.
For an in depth guide on how to do it properly, check out my Can you freeze brownies guide.
What should I serve with these chocolate orange brownies?
Of course, these luscious chocolate orange brownies taste incredible on their own. Still, if you want to take things to another level, you can always serve them up with any of the following:
- Serve them with a generous dollop of your favourite ice cream. Need some inspiration? Go for this hokey pokey ice cream or, if you’re feeling extra festive, try this eggnog ice cream
- Add a drizzle of delicious double cream
- Add a spoonful of cream cheese frosting. You could even use the orange icing from my chocolate orange cupcake recipe
What drinks go with brownies?
If you’re tucking into a brownie or two at brunch, it will go down a treat with a coffee.
A dark beer or a stout would also work wonderfully well with the chocolate flavour. If you’re more into wine, try a dark red like merlot. You could also try a ruby port.
Tips for the perfect chocolate brownies
Let’s go over a few key points that you’ll need to follow to get the best possible chocolate orange brownies:
- Be sure to whisk the eggs and the caster sugar fully. This is the key to getting that wonderful gooey texture on the inside of your chocolate orange brownies
- Use an aluminium baking tray, as opposed to a pyrex dish. This is because brownies bake slower in glass dishes
- Make sure to line your baking tray with parchment paper. This will make removing the brownies so much easier
- it’s a good idea to rotate the pan halfway through the cooking time. Since most ovens have hot and cool spots, this ensures that the brownies will bake evenly
- Keep your brownies moist by adding a slice of bread to their storage container. The brownies will draw the moisture out of the bread to prevent them from going dry
More chocolate orange recipes
Can’t get enough chocolate orange? As nice as it is to nibble on Terry’s Chocolate Orange, take things to the next level with these recipes:
- Chocolate orange cupcakes – cupcakes of the highest order! These chocolate orange delights are easy to make and impossible to resist
- Chocolate orange cheesecake – lusciously creamy and deliciously chocolatey. If you’re a cheesecake fan, don’t miss out on this one!
More brownie recipes
If you loved this chocolate orange brownie recipe, try some of these sublime brownie recipes!
- Mini Egg brownies – this is a wonderful Easter treat that never fails to bring smiles
- Cherry brownies – so so good! Rich, chocolatey and deliciously decadent, these brownies are 100% vegan and 100% irresistible
- Halloween brownies – these spooktacular brownies with have the big kids and small kids screaming with delight
- Chocolate and pistachio brownies – one for the sophisticated brownie fan. These indulgent treats come with a satisfying nutty crunch and a perfectly gooey centre
- Peanut butter and pecan brownies – no ordinary brownie. These bad boys bring some serious depth of flavour
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Chocolate Orange Brownies
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 16 large squares or 32 small squares 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
If you have a sweet tooth this is the recipe for you. These delectable Chocolate Orange Brownies won’t last a day.
Ingredients
- 300g (2 cups) Terry’s Chocolate Orange, chopped [FOR MELTING]
- 300g (2 cups) dark chocolate, chopped
- 400g (1¾ cups) unsalted butter
- 6 large eggs
- 550g (2½ cups) caster sugar
- 2 tbsp (30ml) Angostura orange bitters
- 180g (1½ cups) plain flour
- 70g (½ cup) cocoa powder
- 600g (4 cups) Terry’s chocolate orange, broken into big chunks [KEPT INTACT]
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 180°C / 160°C fan / 355°F / gas mark 4 and line a 10 x 15 x 1in (25.5 x 38 x 2.5cm) baking tray with parchment paper.
- In a bain-marie, melt the Terry’s Chocolate Orange, dark chocolate and butter together. You can use the microwave instead. If you do so, use 30 second blasts and stir after each session. Set aside and allow to cool.
- Using a stand mixer, whisk together the eggs and caster sugar until you achieve a pale yellow colour and it has almost doubled in volume.
- Stir the Angostura orange bitters into the cooled chocolate mixture, then gently fold the cooled chocolate mixture into the egg mixture until fully incorporated. This will take a little time but it will be worth it, you don’t want to lose the air bubbles achieved through whisking the egg mixture.
- Sift the flour and cocoa powder in a separate bowl. Gently fold it into the chocolate batter, trying to retain as much air in as possible.
- Once fully combined, fold in the chocolate orange chunks.
- Pour the batter into the baking tray then transfer to the oven and bake for 35-40 minutes.
- Once baked remove from the oven and allow to cool completely in the baking tray.
- Portion up as you wish and enjoy!
Notes
- Don’t replace the dark chocolate with milk chocolate as they have two different fat content levels and you won’t get the best results.
- If you can’t find Terry’s Chocolate Orange then another brand will do. Or, you can replace it with the same quantity of milk chocolate and then add extra orange extract.
- You can serve these brownies cold as a treat or give them a quick zap in the microwave and serve with strawberries and cream. Even ice cream will work!
- The cooking time may vary with different ovens so use the skewer test. If it comes out mostly dry and the center of the brownie doesn’t wobble it should be good.
- The brownies will last in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks or you can even freeze them.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: British
Keywords: chocolate orange brownies, chocolate orange dessert, chocolate orange recipe, Christmas brownie recipe, brownie recipe
Samantha
I love Brownies!
Jacqueline Kelly
Death by Chocolate! 😝
Michael Fisher
Caramel fudge
MARK THOMAS
Chocolate fudge cake is my favourite chocolate dessert .
Gerri Tennant
It used to be home made chocolate mousse but I think I’ve just found a new favourite!
Iain maciver
brownies
Chris Andrews
definitely tiramisu
Ben Audsley
chocolate cheesecake
claire woods
My Mum’s homemade chocolate brownie with ice cream.
Matilda Mummery
Brownies, they are so delicious – hot or cold! 🙂
Joo Dee
a nice chocolate ice cream with chocolate fudge sauce
Sadiyya Maryam
Chocolate pudding
TonyG
Melt in the middle chocolate pudding is my favourite
Marie Rungapadiachy
My favourite chocolate dessert has to be Chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream filling.
Kim Murray
Love Black Forest Gateau x
Alice Gilkes
My favourite chocolate dessert is a nice piece of chocolate concrete with pink custard.
Brad Start
I’d really enjoy a light chocolate mousse
Rena Plumridge
I love chocolate brownies
Rachael Sexey
I love a good rhubarb crumble
Karen Hughes
Chocolate sponge pudding or brownie
Elaine Oliver
Brownies
KEV C
chocolate mousse 🙂
Sheena Batey
Chocolate Torte
William Gould
Chocolate cheesecake!
Kevin McGovern
Yule Log
Louise A
Pot au Chocolat
Charlotte isobelle
I do love a chocolate mousse, it’s my go to desert when Im on holiday.
Mark Mccaffery
A chocolate sponge cake with a chocolate icing and cream filling.
Margaret Mccaffery
I’m quite fond of chocolate mousse.
Michelle Smith
Chocolate mousse
MARK HOPKINS
Tiramisu
Nigel Soper
Black Forest gateau
James Darby
I like to have a chocolate gateau
Tracey Ryder
love profiteroles and chocolate mousse
Laura F
Chocolate cake. Also I tried to rate the recipe 5 stars but it wouldn’t let me, I’m using Microsoft Edge browser – maybe that’s the issue..? Anyway, I love the recipe!
Alice Dixon
Hot chocolate fudge cake with ice cream
Kevin Honey
Chocolate mousse!
Sue McCarthy
Profiteroles
sallie burrows
chocolate fudge cake
shellyg
black forest gateux is mine if that counts as a chocolate dessert
Kathy Cakebread
brownies with custard:)
Bethan Griffiths
Chocolate brownies are my fave!
Andrea Fletcher
Chocolate and prune pudding with chocolate custard.
Keith Hunt
No-bake chocolate cheesecake
Emma Walters
chocolate torte x
Angie McDonald
Chocolate roulade
Sare Davies
Chocolate Torte
Lynn Brown
chocolate fudge cake
Cherry Lloyd
Chocolate ganache for me please
toni pearson
warm chocolate fondant cake
Mark R
Chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream
Fiona Johnstone
I love a chocolate trifle. I love a melt in the middle chocolate brownie. I love a lemon cheesecake. I love .. I just love all desserts.
WILLIAM PURRY
Sachertorte.
Zoe Bee
Brownies are definitely my favourite chocolate desert, and these take it up that extra notch 😍 they look so yummy as do all of your recipes!
★★★★★
Dale Dow
I love a chocolate fudge cake, served warm…. and now I want one
Caroline Tinsley
I like chocolate swiss roll with chocolate sponge and vanilla buttercream filling.
Claire Lawrenson
It’s got to be a Sachertorte cake for me! They are absolutely scrummy and a rare treat.
betsy ferguson
I make a nutella chocolate cake with glace cherries – it is quite indulgent, but very enjoyable!
Emily walker
I love salted caramel chocolate ganache
Matt Allum-O'Reilly
There is only one answer to this, that is a CHOCOLATE BROWNIE
SarahJane Carter
I love Twix cheesecake
Lucy
Chocolate brownie
Angela Kelly
I love anything with chocolate. I think chocolate pudding is my favourite.
KarlaS
Simple chocolate mousse is the best!
Eilidh F
Brownies!
Laura Pritchard
I love a warm chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream.
melanie stirling
Sacher Torte is my favourite.
Tracy Nixon
Millionnaires shortbread for me!
Lynne OConnor
chocolate rum trifle
Cheryl Packer
Chocolate mousse.
Julie Ward
Toblerone cheesecake
Meryl Hulber
OMG! Anything with chocolate is got to be good right? My mouth is watering.
Milly Y
Chocolate cheesecake
Carole Nott
I like chocolate cheesecake served with cream
Karen R
I love a Chocolate Brownie – my daughter loves to make them, and they come out tasting so good, not too sweet, absolutely delicious 🙂
Adrian Bold
Chocolate brownies
Cara Towers
I love chocolate pot – totally gooey & delicious 😋
Natasha R-M
It has to be profiteroles – delicious!
Jessica Powell
I’ve always got room for chocolate cake 🙂
Anne Plumb
Black Forest Gateau
Ian Campbell
Chocolate Yule Log. Heaven as a dessert, and the stuff of which sweet dreams are made!
Ian Yates
Nothing rounds off better than a dreamy, creamy chocolate mousse.
Sheila Reeves
I love Sachertorte – never made one myself though!
Christine Caple
Definitely chocolate cheesecake.
Emilia Nastaly-Howard
chocolate mousse
Felicity mc
Profiteroles 😋
Charlotte H
Any chocolate dessert is good in my book but my favourite has to be a chocolate torte!
lynn neal
I like chocolate cheesecak!
★★★★★
judy kennedy
Chocolate fudge cake and cream
jen s morgan
Chocolate orange mousse
Clara
Chocolate fondant
Eileen Hindley
Mississippi mud cake
Sally Collingwood
Yule Log!
Lorna H
100% chocolate brownies, you can’t beat them!
Laura Norcop
Chocolate fudge cake for me. Delicious 😋
Jenna P
Brownies with custard or cream are my favourite chocolate dessert actually!
Theresa Cooke
I would say definitely a chocolate one. I like melt in the middle Puds, that’s my go to dinner party dessert.
Layla Thomas
I love chocolate mousse.
David Edwards
Choc fudge brownie
Hannah Smith
My favourite dessert has to be homemade chocolate fondants with vanilla ice cream 🙂
Debra Walker
Brownies
Melissa Lee
I really love a good chocolate fudge cake
Ursula Hunt
I love a melt in the middle chocolate pudding
Jennifer Toal
Anything dark chocolate
Wendy Smith
I’m very partial to a chocolate Yule Log
josephine
A Black Forest Gateau cake, with extra cream
MICHELLE O'NEILL
I love Profiteroles!!
Anna Craig
Melt in the middle chocolate pudding!
Carol W
Chocolate sponge pudding with chocolate icing covered with custard.
dana
A rich chocolate gateau
Iris
I love chocolate mousse
Vivienne Moreno
Chocolate Fudge Cake
Roger Bufton
Cherry brownies
Claire Eadie
Fudge
Louise Comb
For me, it has to be: Melt in the Middle Chocolate Pudding, with custard. I don’t half fancy some now XXX
Mandy Doherty
I really enjoy a large slice of chocolate tart
★★★★★
Claire Driver
Warm chocolate cake with a thick icing and cream
justine meyer
Love chocolate fudge cake
Donna W
I love the Gu chocolate desserts, any of them! They’re delicious!!