Chocolate Oat Walnut Brownies … Baking and other activities for the family this summer
“Summertime is always the best of what might be.”
Charles Bowden
Chocolate Oat Almond Walnut Brownies … you can’t have enough brownie recipes under your belt. The younger teen is suddenly showing sporadic bursts of interests in the kitchen. Maybe he’s trying to beat the heat, or maybe discovering a new hobby. Maybe forever H U N G R Y, he thinks it’s best
I was pleasantly surprised some time back when he sauntered into the kitchen in his PJs while I was stirring brownies. Nonchalantly he took the whisk and bowl from me, and made the batter like he had been doing it for years! So I asked him to get up early a few days ago to bake another batch. He made these as we were off for a weekend to Calcutta.
It’s a nice way to engage kids in the kitchen, brilliant actually. Brownies are forgiving creatures. Delicious too! The batter gets stirred together in minutes, and these are less messy. It’s a simple one bowl recipe. Nothing much can go wrong.
You can see how the lad had a go at them. He stirred them together gently, and then in a moment of happiness, gave the batter a vigorous stir up! Soon we had a batch of Chocolate Oat Walnut Brownies. These are gluten-free.
{Research suggests that pure, uncontaminated oats and oat products are not toxic to the majority of adults and children with coeliac disease. However the vast majority of oats and oats products on the market are contaminated with wheat, rye and/or barley. Processing, such as milling, makes them unsuitable for people with coeliac disease. The protein found in oats is called avenin, which is similar to gluten. There is some evidence to suggest that some people with coeliac disease may even react to pure, uncontaminated oats.}
This recipe is ever forgiving and came out good. Good enough for the kids to enjoy, good enough for the younger teen to flaunt them. “I made them”, he announces to all and sundry, then goes on to devour another rightful square! Milk and brownies forever welcome!
He also enjoyed brûléeing the crème brûlée we made a few days ago. It’s nice to involve kids in the kitchen during the summer break. Beware though, the mess is yours to clean if you have teens like mine! He seems to be loving it. So does the elder sis. She baked the cocker a special doggie birthday cake a few days ago. I was skeptical. Needn’t have been. She had a blast and made it look so pretty! Baking is now a big option in the vacations!
These Chocolate Oat Walnut Brownies were for Calcutta, the city of joy! Not a planned vacation, but a weekend getaway to join Mr PAB who had work there. Another inspiring Indian city covered, another opportunity to experience a rich culture. O Calcutta … you are just so beautiful!
There’s been a lot of Bengali influence in my life of late. I was recently interviewed by Sananda magazine, the east Indian version of Femina, in an anniversary special. These days, Mr PAB regularly visits Calcutta on work, coming home laden with intriguing tales! I’ve also recently reviewed a Bengali cookbook cum food journey ‘Bong Moms Cookbook’ for a magazine. That brought the Bong culture and cuisine onto my table.
What are your plans these holidays? We’re halfway through the vacations here. Between internships and a theatre workshop, we’ve crossed the halfway mark. With Master Chef Oz around the corner, hopefully some culinary skills might get polished. Did I forget to mention some candid photography that the kids did too? They both get pretty trigger happy now and then!
Here are some simple recipes to get the kids into the kitchen with … Whole Wheat Dark Chocolate Brownies, Creme au Chocolat Shots, Minty Chickpea Yogurt Parfaits, Simplest & Best 2 ingredient Dark Chocolate Mousse, Whole Wheat & Oat Chocolate Chip Cookies, Vanilla Bean Chocolate Chip Wookies, Almond Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Buttercream, One Bowl Milk Chocolate Brownies, Strawberry Fro Yo
[print_this]Recipe: Chocolate Oat Walnut Brownies 
Summary: A simple one bowl recipe, these Chocolate Oat Walnut Brownies are perfect for kids to make in the kitchen. Healthy, gluten-free and moist, this offers yet another yummy dimension to the ever loved brownie!
Prep Time: 10 minutes Total Time: 40 minutes Ingredients:
- 100g butter
- 200 g milk choc
- 2 tbsp coffee {optional}
- 100g sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp baking powder
- pinch salt
- 50g Quaker oats
- 25g almond meal
- 75g walnuts, chopped
- 50g dark chocolate chips
Method:
- Preheat the oven to 180C. Line a square 8 X 8″ baking tin with parchment paper.
- Place the butter and chocolate in a bowl and microwave for 1 minute {or simmer over a double boiler}. Whisk well until the chocolate has blended well. Add coffee if using, and whisk again.
- Add the sugar and whisk well.
- Whisk in the eggs, followed by the vanilla extract, then baking powder and salt.
- Now fold in the oats and almond meal, followed by the dark chocolate chips and /or nuts if using. {Reserve a few chocolate chips to sprinkle on top of the batter if desired}
- Turn batter into prepared tin, spread uniformly and bake for approximately 20-22 minutes.
- Cool in tin, then remove gently and cut into squares.
[/print_this]
Don’t miss a post 
Also find me on The Rabid Baker, The Times of India
Deeba @ PAB
About me: I am a freelance food writer, recipe developer and photographer. Food is my passion - baking, cooking, developing recipes, making recipes healthier, using fresh seasonal produce and local products, keeping a check on my carbon footprint and being a responsible foodie! I enjoy food styling, food photography, recipe development and product reviews. I express this through my food photographs which I style and the recipes I blog. My strength lies in 'Doing Food From Scratch'; it must taste as good as it looks, and be healthy too. Baking in India, often my biggest challenge is the non-availability of baking ingredients, and this has now become a platform to get creative on. I enjoy cooking immensely as well.
24 Comments
Rosa
Lovely brownies! This version is great.
Cheers,
Rosa
sangeeta khanna
I love when there are plenty of people in the kitchen. All my childhood was spent like this, all of us siblings all the time in the kitchen and the dog standing right at the door 🙂
Such fun it used to be, we used to criticise each other so much 🙂
Manju @ Manju'sEatingDelights
As usual you inspire me with your sweet treats and wonderful posts. I hope someday my lil boy will also venture into the kitchen and help me with some baking 😉 Oh! and would you beleive with all the baking I’ve done I’ve never made brownies till now, though I’ve eaten like dozens of them…hmmm, gotta get some brownie baking done soon…
Finla
These brownies looks so good and healthy too with the oats 🙂 Looks like you all had such a wonderful time in Kolkatta I think i was there some 9 years ago. We love the place and if Hans could he would like that i chang emy mind in living in B’lore when we are old to Kolkatta 🙂
marcellina
Hmmm so there is hope, is there? I should not give up just yet. BTW is the coffee, instant coffee powder or black brewed coffee?
Deeba @ PAB
Loads of hope!!! Instant coffee powder is what I use.
marcellina
Thanks! Always could do with more brownie recipes especially ones that the teens might be enthusiastic about making!
ketan
I have involved my two year old int he kitchen. She helps me de-peel the mangoes, whisk the batter (in her own way) and make faux rotis 😀 Keeps her near me for some Father – Daughter bonding and it is amazing how fast the little ones pick up! Of course i keep her away from the fragile and sharp stuff, but she will graduate soon 😀
Deeba @ PAB
You are so brave Ketan… Hats off to you! How sweet your little one sounds. When mine were that young, I was so lost! Yay you!!
The Vanilla Bean
I’ve made these twice today.
I have to keep sending them out to other people because I’m in serious danger of eating it all. I love that you can’t tell they don’t have flour. The texture is just so deceiving. Thanks to you, I now have a very exciting new addition to gluten free goods on my list!
Mansi Singh
Hi Deeba
Wow flourless chocolate brownies, look amazing.
Your recipe of wholewheat double chocolate brownies had Callebaut chocolate. Where do you get callebaut callets in Delhi/NCR?
Thanks
Mansi
Deeba @ PAB
Hi Mansi, I was lucky enough to get a sack of Callebaut from a food blogger friend, Finla, from Belgium. I haven’t ever bought Callebaut here in the NCR, but I think it is available in Mumbai. I use a good dark couverture that I buy online from indlucia.com . It’s a 53% chocolate and is very good.
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen
I couldn’t agree more, there’s always room for a new brownie recipe!
Suma Rowjee
I so want my kids to learn baking and cooking, but only once they are old enough to clean up the mess to some extent at least 🙂
The brownies look and sound great, so does your budding charming little chef!
Shivani
Hi Dnt knw..y my comments are not showing on ur sirte..I tried contacting u earlier also..ant to knw abt vital gluten..can i subsitute it wid sumthing…???Or is it available online..??I was trying the foccacia receipie..where u included gluten..can i subsitute it wid sumthing n in wat quantity??
Deeba @ PAB
Hi Shivani. A 1000 apologies. I have been really busy of late, but really should have replied earlier. Forgive me.
You can find vital gluten online here – http://bakersmart.co.in/. You may also find it at Modern Bazaar in Delhi.
Deeba @ PAB
Hi Shivani,
Wheat germ is from a specific part of the wheat kernel and is very high in fiber and protein. It is a common ingredient in granola and adds texture and protein. You will want to use wheat germ in the granola bars.
Vital wheat gluten is extracted from whole grain flour. It is a common ingredient in 100% whole wheat and other whole grain breads. It is a flour-like product. It makes bread doughs more “elastic” and makes the final bread product moister, softer and more “like store bought”.
You cannot substitute one for the other. Just skip the vital gluten. I used to make my focaccia without it earlier.
Ash (foodfashionparty@blogspot.com)
I enjoy how you involve the kids in baking…I have followed your blog for a while and you are one of my inspirations…It’s summer time in SF, will bake it with my boys..Thanks
Shivani
Hi Deeba..no problem at all..
Actually i stay in pune..where bakersmart dnt deliver
In ur focaccia recipie u told sumone tat instead of gluten u can use atta..is it so..?? can i use it in same quantity as gluten..??
I wanted to ask u one more thing..is wheat germ powder same as wheat gluten??I found tat at Nature basket..
Waiting eagerly for ur reply as my gloripan yeast wuld be delivered on weeknd
n iam itching to bake pizza n breads..
Thanx again..
Kosar
Just when i saw this post my tummy yearn to have all those brownies. So temtpting
Shivani
Thanx a ton Deeba..my yeast arrived..tommorow will be my baking day..!!
Neetu jain
Hi Deeba
I try out your recipe regularly and have achieve good results with your recipes but i would like to know what is the substitutes for eggs in all your recipes.
Shivani
Hi deeba..
My pizza turned out delicious…it was gr88…even hubby luvd them alot..now itz time to play more wid yeast..!!
Buy world food online
These brownies looks so yummy and healthy with the oats. These brownies are very tempting. I loved to eat it all.