Husband and I are having a bake-off. I hadn't made this recipe before, but it was definitely a good choice. It's from the Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book (you know, the red and white checker one?) As with before, I added frosting. Five stars out of five. So. Good. I haven't tried his brownies yet, but I think I'm going to win. I did not add nuts, and I completely ignored the instructions about lining the pan with foil.
For the frosting, I decided I wanted dark chocolate frosting. Since the recipe called for chocolate chips, I simply used dark chocolate chips. It was really good, but I don't think the dark chocolate made much of a difference. It wasn't a noticeable adjustment to the recipe.
1/2 cup butter
3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)
In a medium saucepan heat and stir butter and unsweetened chocolate over low heat until smooth; set aside to cool. Preheat oven to 350˚ F.
Line an 8x8x2-inch baking pan with foil, leaving about 1 inch of the foil extending over the ends of pan. Grease foil; set pan aside. Stir the sugar into the cooled chocolate mixture. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating with a wooden spoon just until combined. Stir in vanilla.
In a small bowl stir together the flour and baking soda. Add flour mixture to chocolate mixture; stir just until combined. If desired, stir in nuts. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Remove brownies from pan, using the overlapping foil to lift brownies. Place on cutting board; cut into brownies.
Brownie frosting
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons butter, softened
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/2 dash vanilla extract
Combine the milk, butter, and sugar together in a saucepan and bring to a boil; allow to cook at a rolling boil for 30 seconds and immediately remove from heat. Add the chocolate chips and vanilla to the milk mixture and stir until the chips are completely melted. Pour immediately over warm brownies.
The other day I put marshmallows on my finished brownies, then added the frosting. It was dreamy.
