Pink Peppercorn and Black Salt Brownies

85g (3oz / 6 tbsp) butter, cut into pieces (I used salted, add a pinch of salt if using unsalted)

225g (8oz) bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped - I used ghana dark for more of a chocolate punch!

3/4 cup (150g) sugar (I used slightly less)

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground cardamom
1/8 tsp ground cloves

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 large eggs, at room temperature

1/4 cup (35 g) all-purpose flour

About 2 tsp freshly ground pink peppercorns (I had a bit extra and mixed a bit into the mix)
about 1 tsp of black salt flakes (see http://www.gourmetgroceronline.com.au/salt-and-pepper/gourmet-salt/raw-materials-salt/Raw-Materials-Black-Salt-Flakes. I don't know if it's available in NZ. White salt flakes, or any other colour, would also do)

Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F), I'd recommend lowering it to 170°C if using fan-forced. Grease well and line the bottom and two long sides of a 20x30cm slice/brownie tin (can be substituted with a 20cm/23cm square cake tin). Let the baking paper hang over the long edges, it will make it easier to lift brownie out later. Grease the paper lightly as well.

In a medium saucepan, melt the butter, then add the chocolate and stir over low heat until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Remove from the heat and stir in the sugar, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and vanilla bean until combined. Stir in the eggs one at a time until smooth. Add the flour and stir energetically for just a minute, until the batter loses its graininess, becomes smooth and glossy, and pulls away a bit from the sides of the saucepan.

Scrape the mixture into the prepared pan. Sprinkle pink peppercorns and then salt flakes evenly over the top of the mixture and bake until the center feels almost set, about 27-30 minutes. Don’t overbake. Let cool completely in the pan before lifting out the brownies using the baking paper overhang. Slice into 16 equal pieces. Store in in airtight container (I kept mine in the fridge to keep it from going soggy), can be stored for 4 days or frozen for up to a month.