… in the past two weeks the UK has had ALL the weather. From burning, summer-holiday sunshine to freezing winds and snow. We’re talking weather changes of epic, Hollywood-disaster-film proportions… and sometimes all in the same day. On one morning last week I was sitting in the office with glorious sunshine streaming through the window and reading a tweet about the snow that was settling not 400 miles North and then for that very sunshine to turn to dark clouds and sleet only two hours later. It had lots of people baffled but I’m convinced it’s always like this in April. We have the classic ‘April Showers’ which is a warning to anyone out and about that it’s likely to suddenly downpour with no notice but I like to imagine that Mother Nature uses April in the UK to practice the weather. Winter is over, Summer is coming which can be pretty dull so she needs to stretch her talents, crack her knuckles and have a go. We do live on an island after all and the fact that we’re surrounded by three strong weather fronts means our weather is changeable to say the least. It’s probably the reason why we’re all so obsessed with it. And of course it totally effects our eating habits too. I was essentially all geared up for salads, chilled soups, quiches and even barbecues but now i’m thinking of warming stews, slow-cooking and roasts. Confusing yes, but never really a heartache… I mean, any excuses for herb dumplings right?
rum and coconut bounty brownies
it’s safe to say that if you grew up in the UK in the 70’s or 80’s the Bounty chocolate bar will hold a special place in your hearts. Whilst it was actually released during the tourism boom in the 50’s it was not doubt the ‘Taste of Paradise’ adverts that we all fondly remember. Back then, when the date began with a one and a nine, the coconut seemed like such an exotic food item, only seen at either the funfair or wrapped in chocolate – I mean you could get them at ‘specialist’ shops but no white, middle-class mum of two ever actually purchased one and brought one home… and if they did nobody knew what to do with it. So the idea of the delicious chocolate bar, mysteriously served as two smaller bars in one long wrapper was very tempting and felt particularly adult and exotic. Of course the poor coconut has become commonplace with the millennial generation and with its incredibly versatile and healthy oil you can understand why… but of course it means the chocolate coated Bounty bar has taken somewhat of a side-swipe and been relegated to the bottom shelf of the chocolate counter. I love them and along with the coconuts natural bathing partner rum, take centre stage in these very adult brownies. These rum and coconut bounty brownies are just divine. It’s my classic and failsafe brownie recipe just with added vigour… painless, simple and very fast to bake, there are no excuses to have these in your gob this very afternoon.
- 185g butter
- 185g good quality dark chocolate – at least 70% cocoa solids
- 3 large eggs
- 275g golden caster sugar
- 85g plain flour
- a pinch of salt
- 40g cocoa powder
- 100g desiccated coconut
- 4 tablespoons of rum
- 6 Bounty chocolate bars
grease and line a 20cm square brownie pan, pre-heat the oven to 160C
in a pan gently melt the butter and chocolate – do this over a really low heat and stir regularly – take it off the heat before it’s fully melted and set aside to cool, stirring again as it melts, stir in the rum.
in a large bowl beat the eggs and sugar with an electric mix for about 6 minutes until it doubles in volume and becomes pale, light and airy then pour in the melted and cooled chocolate and gently fold in until it’s fully combined
sieve in the flour, salt and cocoa and again, gently fold in, along with the desiccated coconut, and pour the mixture into your brownie pan.
crumble the bounty bars randomly over the brownie batter pushing some pieces into the mixture and leaving some on top
bake on 160C for 25 mins then remove from the oven and let it cool in the tin – cut into squares
eat and of course, enjoy!
Heaven! I insist you post one to me – now!
I remember my father taking a hammer to coconuts won at the fair (this would be in the 1960s) but I don’t remember eating them fresh. Perhaps he never managed to get them open.
they might get a bit squishy in the mail… but if you insist!
Hello admin how are you doing?
I read your post about RUM AND COCONUT BOUNTY BROWNIES.
That recipe is looking so nice i can’t wait to try this.
thanks x
The Bounty has always been my favourite sweet, and the one thing I grab at the checkout when life has been a bitch and I need some instant comfort.
The brownies look nothing short of truly fabulous, must give them a try. The thought of buying six Bounty bars – guilt overload!
ha! I love a bounty bar and you’re so right they are the perfect comfort… and its only 6… that’s 3 bars.
Your Granddad Henry always brought home coconuts in the 50’s and 60’s. We used to crack a small hole and get the coconut milk out first and drink it and then break the rest of the shell open.
Do you remember the “coco” man coming along the beach in Italy 3 years ago.
Fresh coconut tastes so much nicer than desiccated.
I remember! Love you mum x
I didn’t realise that you could still buy Bounty bars (OK, I admit that I live in a world of my own). Great sounding brownies and a little rum is always welcome, even on an island full of Bounty bars I’d say.
oh yes, the are still there, tucked away but still there…they should make them rum infused to begin with!
I love hearing about your weather – and your life there in the UK. And I love your recipes! These brownies look magnificent and absolutely perfect. You can never go wrong with chocolate – no matter what time of year 🙂 Have a great week Dom!
oh thanks Tricia… we are weather obsessed. These really are the best brownies, so simple!
I love this looks absolutely delicious! It would be interesting to try this dishes with the other yummy Food!
Thanks xx
It looks magnificent. Hard work paid Dominic 🙂
thanks x
Oh YES! Definitely the bar of my childhood (along with lots of others….. I had a bit of a sweet tooth!). But Bounty & Rum Brownies? Well….. you’ve got me glued!
The bounty advert was funny to re-watch after all this time….. I went out to the Maldives a good few years ago and visited ‘Bounty island’ (allegedly where they made the advert)…. It WAS paradise!!!! x
ha! It is a taste of paradise. SOOOO jealous of your trip.
Oh my god these look amazing! I’ve totally saved this recipe to make at the weekend
thanks Lucy!… they’re so easy to make and deliver all the goods!!
Oh my! I need a batch of these, pronto! Can’t get enough coconut, nor chocolate, these days.
I know right!!
CT’s favourite chocolate bar is a Bounty so he would very much appreciate these. Don’t forget We Should Cocoa – this would be perfect.