Fairtrade Chocolate, Almond + Smoked Salt Blondies

For two weeks each year, thousands people around the UK come together to celebrate the people who grow our food, people who live in some of the poorest countries in the world. This year Fairtrade Fortnight is focusing on the individuals – in particular the women – who grow the cocoa in the chocolate we love so much.

Fair trade to me is the idea that your food has come from a place where people are treated fairly and with respect.  The love and energy that they put into their produce shines through to your plate.

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Chocolate is an especially important ingredient in my house – whether it’s a few dark squares as an afternoon pick me up, or a bar of chocolate for a tray of these delicious guys.

These blondies are somewhat bottle blonde. Though they don’t have the cocoa or hefty amount of chocolate that a brownie would (which makes them a blondie), I do use muscovado sugar, which turns them a deep dark brunette. If you like you could use a lighter sugar, though the deep maltiness of muscovado works so well. The topping is blonde, however – it’s a quick, fudgy meringue-like almond topping which keeps them looking a bit blonder.

Sometimes I make these with a blend of spelt and rye flour, as I like the deep rich back note that the rye brings. The smoked salt adds something and works so well with the almonds and chocolate, I use a Welsh one, but if you can’t get hold of it, normal flaky salt will work just fine. These can also be made with coconut sugar and aquafaba  which would make them vegan.