Sunday, March 1, 2009

Just in case you are craving chocolate. . .

Years ago, a dear friend was at my house for lunch and we were craving something chocolate (I know you're surprised!). She suggested the brownie recipe on the Hershey cocoa powder container. And POOF, the rest is history.

I never buy brownie mixes anymore. These are WAY better. We generally always have the ingredients on hand. Which is a good and a bad thing, of course.

Now that I've experimented a bit, here is the very best way to make them.
(the depressing part is that I can type this from memory)

(which may have something to do, in a vague way, with the extra 15 pounds I'm carrying around)

(or not)

Here's what you do:


Melt two sticks of butter in a microwave safe mixing bowl.
Stir in two cups of white sugar.
Add four eggs, one at a time, beating between additions.
Two teaspoons of vanilla.
Stir in carefully 3/4 C of cocoa powder.
Measure out 1 C of unbleached all purpose flour.
On top of the measured flour, spoon 1/2 t baking powder and 1/4 t salt.
Add to chocolate mixture and stir.
Mix in 1 C of semi-sweet chocolate chips.
Spread in greased 9x13 cake pan.
Bake at 350 for 25-30 min.
Take them out before you think they are done.
(in my oven, 25 minutes is perfect)

NOW.

They are fine without the chocolate chips, but not as good.
However, you can add 1 C of nuts to this basic recipe. I use chopped pecans, but if you like walnuts, that's good, too.
You can also use white chocolate chips, instead of the semi-sweet. And nuts. YUM! That's what I did the last time I made them and they were fabulous.
Today, Son (#3) made them with Reese's pieces instead of chocolate chips. I'm sure they'll be delish!
Except that he didn't count before he made them and we only had two eggs.
And then he added soda instead of baking powder.
(I don't recommend that)

Anyway, you can stir in pretty much anything and these always come out delicious and rich and irresistible. (my favorite is 1/2 chocolate chips, 1/2 M&M's - but don't tell)

And that's all I'm sayin'.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BASIC BROWNIES

1 C Butter
2 C White Sugar
2 t Vanilla
4 Eggs
3/4 C Cocoa Powder
1 C Unbleached All-purpose White Flour
1/2 t Baking Powder
1/4 t Salt
1 C Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

Heat oven to 350. Grease 9x13 baking pan. Microwave butter to melt in a mixing bowl. Stir in sugar and vanilla. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Stir in cocoa. Add flour, baking powder and salt. Stir in chocolate chips. Spread in baking pan. Bake 25-30 minutes.

Let cool before serving.

You're welcome.


12 comments:

Hilary de Haan said...

Oh my goodness! That looks fabulous!!!

The Adventures of Treasure's Island said...

kill me, just kill me now. those sound wonderful!

Zimms Zoo said...

Don't share anymore like this. I still have 10 (or more) pounds hanging around.

Lori Leigh said...

I love your brownie recipe. I don't used boxed ones anymore either. Have a great Monday!

jo said...

You should have never.........

The Anderson Zoo said...

Seriously, you could have gone all day without sharing that recipe b/c I'm sure I'll be trying it tonight...good thing i won't be home.

Hope you are having a great day friend.

Corrie said...

man, that sounds good...I think I need to visit!

Anonymous said...

Time for a chocolate attack! My eldest son will be glad to see this recipe. He is sure that I am forever on a diet and do not make enough desserts! I'll have to copy this one, perhaps he can learn to make them himself...but then I would have to smell them and... Have a great week friend!

Anonymous said...

We made these for supper! Rave reviews, yumcious chocolate, creamy...mmmmmmm. I am sure that these should not be found in our house too often! :}

Unknown said...

I am going to pretend like I didn't read this wonderful sounding recipe. I try so hard NOT to make stuff like this at my house. I get plenty elsewhere, that I think this needs to be on the no-no list for my house. But, can I come over someday to get my chocolate fix?

Brooke said...

I made these today, and Oh My Goodness, are they tasty!!!! It's not like I don't have 20 lbs of baby weight that I need to get rid of... Hubby thought they were too rich, but the kids and I really liked them! I think mine needed to cook just a bit longer because they were exceptionally gooey.

Zimms Zoo said...

Lioness and her cousin made them today and were 2 eggs short but the addition of the dark chocolate chips made it all better!