easy chocolate brownies perfect for making with gran kids

Thanks loopilou will try. And thanks for reminding me that there are many more Vegan sites than egg-free. Great source.

Of course some can't use certain ingredients if family members are allergic, that goes without saying.

I don't think anyone was 'offended' by your original post, granjura, although I did feel that the OP might have felt rather dismissed.

Growing up during the 40's marrying in the(late) 50's I never had a choice but cooking from scratch and DH still would not eat a takeaway but I did use cake mixes with GC and I will use M&S ready meals. Horses for courses but I think I have digressed

Granjura Here's the recipe we're going to try, it may be worth seeking out vegan recipes for your DGS? You can add nuts to this one if you like!

Vegan Brownies

250gm plain flour
350gm Demerara sugar
65gm Cocoa powder
1tsp salt
1tsp baking powder

Mix all together and add
250ml water
250ml vegetable oil
1tsp vanilla extract

Spread evenly in 23x33cm (9x13") greased tin and bake for 25-30 minutes at 180 or Gas mark 4 until top no longer shiny. If you prefer less gooey then bake for 5-10 minutes longer or when a skewer comes out clean. Leave to cool for 10 minutes before cutting in to squares.

I'm going to line the base of the tin with baking parchment as rarely manage to get any Brownies recipes out of tin intact!

The point, Stansgran, is that our GS would NOT survive- so I am very glad for you that yours can. It certainly does make life easier, that is for sure ;)

Both DD1 and her DH work very long hours, but cooking from scratch and making home-made sandwiches and packed lunches is not a choice, it is a life-saving necessity.

We both worked long hours too, and always cooked from scratch. It is not that time consuming, really once you get used to it, and cook and freeze batches- honest ;)

I used to buy crumble mix in a packet so DD1 could make something while her baby sister was being fed. They survived. She just stirred round and round and then we added the apple and cooked it later. They also had spaghetti hoops and scrambled egg and junket and bananas and custard. They thrived. I've only really had time to cook from scratch in recent years in retirement. My DGCs always start their cooking journey with me with a five cup cake,then creme caramel,rice pud and baked apples

It's hard isn't it rose. The special problem about egg allergy, is accidental contamination from others (as the little peck on the cheek), hands, any touch, from furniture, plates, pots and pans. At least with gluten, you can 'just (I know- sounds easier than it is) avoid gluten foods- but contamination from traces is not a big issue. Makes going to camp or trips so difficult, one parent has to go with every time. Both parents volunteer and have trained, at their time and expense, to be trainers for the one sport he truly enjoys- so they are always there to keep an eye (but he trains with another trainer- as he needs 'space' away from parents- from afar, and would be immediately on hand should anything go wrong. It is very hard work and stressful- but we all keep cool for his sake. He is otherwise a very normal boy and very happy and adventurous.

If you do get a chance to share with me the egg free brownie recipe, would be grateful. I have a really good recipe for chocolate cake and banana bread- if desired.

Granjura BF says Mumsnet has an egg and nut free Brownies recipe so we're going to have a go at that instead , knowing the two little lads' enthusiasm it should be interesting!

I understand that, granjura.
My DD has coeliac, which she didn't find out until recently. Not as frightening as your DGS but causing all sorts of problems over many years.
She has to read the labels on everything even though she cooks everything from scratch.

I think the idea of making up your own mixes and keeping them in the freezer is a good idea. At the moment, though, 3 year old DGD's idea of 'cooking' is making a smoothie, chopping up the banana and strawberries and pressing the button to whizz it with yogurt or milk and icecream (I just have to make sure not to turn the electricity on at the plug until the lid is on!).

Crikey, didn't read it carefully enough....thank you!

Oooo watch out- the recipe I put on has 2 eggs and walnuts, so not at all suitable for those 2. I have several recipes for egg and nut free biscuits and cake- but not brownies. So if you find one, I'd be very grateful. I have written to Be-Ro to ask their bakers to come up with one, but they haven't got back to me.

One upsetting thing is, that so many people these days have 'bogus' allergies, which are in fact intolerances in many cases- that many people just shrug their shoulders and ignore those who do have REAL SEVERE AND LIFE-THREATENING ALLERGIES, like our lovely GS. The last time he was rushed to A&E, a little girlfriend had just given him a peck on the cheek and must have touched his lips. She had had biscuits after lunch which contained egg- so very little is needed to have a severe reaction.

Thanks for your concern- but we digress. As said, using packet mixes is a nightmare with a child with allergies- as so many additives are used in such packets. So easy to make biscuits from scratch- so, again personally, just can't see the point. The 'cookery' teacher at my last school really tried hard to encourage kids to cook simply from scratch- making pancakes, Yourkshire puds, cakes and biscuits, and 1000s of recipes is so so simple and so much cheaper, with much more wholesome ingredients. I'm sure Jamie would agree, and many Chefs. Keep it simple, make it yourself- easy peasy.

PS never much fancied bread after my DCs had finished....sort of grey-ish and like bricks !

Well Granjura I'm making your chocolate brownies tomorrow with BF and her 2 nut and egg-allergic GS's !
Your description of a child in anaphylaxis is terrifying, I luckily have never had to witness it but I did lose a boyfriend to anaphylactic shock from a bee sting when I was 17.
Personally I agree with everything you say, that's how my children learnt to bake and cook (but I do resort to packets sometimes!) x

Golly no idea my post would cause such a furore. Now I've re-read the offensive post- and it explains why I personally said why I can't use the recommended packet (not only egg allergy, but also many of the additive in packets may be a problem too, due to his severe and life-threatening allergies (not bogus modern Chelsea intolerances ;) ). So, personally, I prefer to make from scratch as then I can be absolutely sure what is in the mix (read packet mixes, there are often (too) many and difficult to check additives. So I am right to be very careful- ever had to stab your GS with an epi-pen whislt dialling 999, and hold his hand whilst his face and throat doubles in size and he can't breathe, and has to be in-tubated? NO? then you are very lucky.

In my post, I then say, politely, that 'if I may' it's so easy to do yourself with GC, so why not? It is true that I believe, again personally and without judgement, that it is educational for even young children to see how quick and easy baking is- and that resorting to a packet it just not necessary. Measuring ingredients is also educational as they have to use millilitres and grams in school- and learning hands on is worth X100 what they see in a book, or more.

Apologies if my comment caused offence- it certainly was not meant.

I would certainly use a packet mix, as my three year old granddaughter is likely to mess it up anyway!

I have, before now, mixed all the dry ingredients in a freezer bag or plastic container in advance so you just add 'wet' ingredients to the mix. It does save having impatient children! I used to do 2 or 3 lots at a time when nieces visiting, and it'll keep safely for some time so really just as easy as packet mixes (also used!)

Up until about 5 yes of age I usually use the packet mixes (Peppa Pig a favourite even with the boys) They haven't got the patience to go through the long process of creaming fat and sugar etc they want instant results to keep their attention. Today we did cake in a mug for the first time, cake overflowed the cup! so the extra was eaten for lunch and he has gone home clutching the mug with rest of cake in for tea. I keep home made pastry in freezer to make jam tarts and also biscuit dough.☺

Yes, I always thought you used unsalted butter in cakes for some reason - then the recipe sometimes says to add salt! Perhaps there is too much in salted butter.

Do you never nibble even one whenim? Or two or three?

You are stronger-willed than me!

I always send home what they've made. When I asked for my cake box back a couple of weeks ago, SiL retrieved it from his car. He'd pinched the remaining cupcakes and eaten them whilst driving to a distant meeting venue. Grandaughters NOT happy with him.

Unsalted butter is excellent in cakes. Better than salted. I don't know why.

DS used to make a boiled fruit cake every week from the age of about 10 or 11; it is easy but comes out well. He is now an excellent cook.

The trouble with chocolate brownies (or any cake) is that they are so moreish. I would have to make the DGC take them all home!

Admittedly my GD was a bit older (9?) when she took over my kitchen on a Saturday afternoon. First of all she would go to the computer and research recipes which she then printed off. Having assured herself that I had the right ingredients, she set about baking whatever she had decided. The whole process was both pleasurable and educational. I still have her folder of recipes among my cook-books.
Guess who did all the clearing up!

I do the same with bread dough, J52, so the children have time to play with making shapes and it can go in the oven in time for them to try it. My favourite bread-making session was when four year old grandson wanted to put cheese on top of his elephant-shaped loaf. He didn't want the grated cheese his brother had sprinkled on his pizza, but opted for slapping a Dairylea triangle on top! 'There you go, nana!' He ate it!