One for the chocoholics, these Chocolate and Pear Brownies are a sublime treat and perfect with a cup of tea. Thanks to AGA Rangemaster Group Home Economist Alexandra Dibble for this lovely recipe.

Serves 18
200g milk chocolate, roughly chopped
200g dark chocolate, roughly chopped
300g unsalted butter, cubed
2 tbsp vanilla bean paste
300g caster sugar
6 eggs, beaten
150g plain flour
4tbsp cocoa powder
200g chocolate chips (your choice of dark, milk or white)
3 conference pears, peeled and quartered
Preparation time: 20 mins. Cooking time: 54 mins.
1. Grease and line a half size roasting tin or brownie tin.
2. Place the chocolate and butter in a bowl set over a pan of boiling water on the simmering plate, hotplate on simmering setting or induction on low. Heat until melted.
3. Once melted, remove from the heat and stir in the sugar and vanilla bean paste. Allow to cool for a few minutes.
4. Beat the eggs into the chocolate mixture, sift in the flour and cocoa and fold into the mixture, until smooth and glossy. Fold in the chocolate chips.
5. Pour the brownie mixture into the tin and arrange the pears on the top.
6. Place the tin in the oven. CAST OVEN: baking oven or oven on B4 setting. FAN OVEN: preheated to B4/160°C/ 325oF. Cook for 30-35 minutes until the top of the brownie has begun to crack and the brownie remains gooey.
7. Allow to cool in the tin before cutting into squares.
Tip: Tinned pears work really well too, just ensure you drain well and blot with kitchen paper.