Brownies
There's something about Brownies that's close to perfection: They're chocolatey, they're cake-like (without the amount of work that cake can take), and there's enough to be able to share, without having tons of leftovers.
Check out today's six brownie recipes, including Frosted Peppermint Brownies and Nutella® Ganache Brownies. Enjoy!
CHEWY PICNIC BROWNIES
This is from the July/August 2009 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 61. It begins, "Using cocoa powder and semisweet chocolate allowed us to cut back on the traditional high-fat, high-sugar ingredient quantities in brownies and still have a satisfyingly chewy, chocolaty dessert." Makes 16 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/chewy-picnic-brownies/.
Ingredients
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
6 oz. semisweet or bittersweet chocolate
6 oz. (1-1/2 sticks) nonhydrogenated margarine or butter, cut into 1-1/2 cups light brown sugar
3 large eggs, beaten
Preparation
Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt in large bowl. Preheat oven to 325°F. Coat 9-inch square baking pan with cooking spray.
Melt chocolate and margarine in double boiler. Remove from heat, and whisk until smooth.
Stir brown sugar into chocolate-butter mixture. Stir in dry ingredients. Fold in beaten eggs. Spread in prepared baking pan, and bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until brownies look set, but still soft in center. Cool. Slice into squares.
SUPERFAST FUDGE BROWNIES
This recipe comes from The Working Stiff Cookbook, by Bob Sloan and illustrated by Michael Klein. I absolutely love this cookbook. Even vegetarians can find plenty to love in it. The great thing about this recipe is that it really doesn't take much longer than a boxed mix, and is so much better!
The recipe starts with, "The perfect comfort food to go with your burgers. (Burger Bliss was on the preceding page.) Brownies always lift the spirits. Especially these brownies. They're fast, easy, and foolproof." I agree!
Ingredients
8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter (or margarine), cut into 4 pieces
1/2 cup Dutch-process unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 extra-large eggs
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
Directions
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Butter an 8-by-8-inch baking pan.
In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, melt the butter with the cocoa powder, stirring continuously until the butter is just melted. Use a rubber spatula to transfer the butter mixture to a large mixing bowl and let it cool for 2 minutes. Add the sugar and vanilla and stir with a wooden spoon until combined. Add the eggs one at a time, stirring until each is well combined. Add the flour and stir just until combined. Do not overmix.
Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and bake on the center rack of the oven for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with tiny crumbs on it. Serve warm or at room temperature.
NUTELLA® GANACHE BROWNIES
This is from Betty Crocker, and begins, “Next time you need a party dessert or just want to pamper someone special (you’re special, by the way), this is your recipe. Betty’s perfect brownies get topped with a glossy ganache and pretty sprinkle of toasted hazelnut for an impressive look that also hints at the secret ingredient: Nutella™! This delectable chocolate-hazelnut spread gets added to the ganache—a fudgy frosting made of chocolate and heavy cream—giving it extra chocolaty flavor, hint of nuttiness, and a lot of ooey-gooey texture. This simple ganache is made in the microwave, so it’s extra quick, and Betty’s brownies start with a mix, which means this spectacular dessert is actually super easy—only 15 minutes of hands-on time required!”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 4 hours 20 minutes; Servings: 16
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 box (16 oz) Betty Crocker™ Supreme original brownie mix
Water, vegetable oil and egg called for on brownie mix box
1/2 cup Nutella® hazelnut spread with cocoa
1/3 cup dark chocolate chips
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1/3 cup chopped hazelnuts (filberts), toasted, skinned
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Grease bottom of 9-inch square pan with shortening or cooking spray. Make brownie batter as directed on box. Spread in pan.
Bake 28 to 31 minutes or until toothpick inserted 2 inches from side of pan comes out almost clean. Cool completely on cooling rack, about 1-1/2 hours.
In medium microwavable bowl, microwave hazelnut spread, chocolate chips and whipping cream uncovered on High 30 seconds. Stir; continue to microwave in 15-second increments, stirring after each, until smooth. Pour hazelnut mixture over baked brownie; spread over top. Sprinkle nuts over top. Refrigerate uncovered about 2 hours or until hazelnut mixture is set. Store loosely covered in refrigerator.
Expert Tips
Removing hazelnut skins can be time-consuming, but we’ve got a method that makes it efficient. Toast nuts at 375°F 10 to 12 minutes, stirring twice. Remove from oven; let stand 5 minutes. Then, pour nuts into clean kitchen towel, and gather tightly into a bundle. Rub vigorously with towel to remove skins.
If you want to skip a step, look for skinned hazelnuts. Hint: They’re sometimes called filberts. To toast skinned hazelnuts, set oven to 350°F. Spread skinned hazelnuts on ungreased baking sheet. Bake uncovered 6 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until light brown. Keep a close eye on toasting nuts, as they can quickly become too dark.
No matter what, don’t skip the toasting step. It adds depth of flavor and brings out the richness of the nuts while also giving them a pretty warm brown color.
Microwave ovens vary, so carefully watch ganache mixture during this step. We highly recommend following the directions to help avoid burning.
The trick to cleanly removing brownies from the pan is to line it with foil. To easily do so, flip your pan upside down. Wrap the foil around the bottom of the pan, leaving a little extra length on either side—this length will serve as “handles” later—then cut your piece. When you turn the pan over, you’ll have the perfect-sized and preshaped piece of foil. After baking, allow brownies to cool completely before lifting out of pan by foil “handles.”
To serve clean-cut pieces, cut with sharp knife, and clean blade after each cut.
Nutella® is a chocolate-hazelnut spread usually found in the same aisle as peanut butter, jellies and jams. If you find yourself a fan, check out the rest of Betty’s chocolate-hazelnut desserts.
DOUBLE CHOCOLATE BROWNIES
This is from Diabetic Gourmet, and begins, "Applesauce replaces part of the fat, Equal all of the sugar, plus you get double the chocolate flavor with both cocoa and chocolate chips – so who can resist these delicious brownies?"
Recipe Yield: Yield: 16 brownies
Source: Equal
Recipe and image appear courtesy of Equal.
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipe/double-chocolate-brownies.
Ingredients
6 tablespoons stick butter, softened
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup Equal Spoonful*
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips or mini chocolate chips
6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Optional: Chopped Walnuts
* May substitute 24 packets Equal sweetener
Directions
Beat butter, applesauce, eggs, and vanilla until blended. Stir in combined flour, Equal, chocolate chips, cocoa, baking powder, nuts (optional) and salt until blended.
Spread batter in sprayed 8-inch square baking pan. Bake in a preheated 350F oven 18 to 20 minutes or until top springs back when gently touched. Cool completely on wire rack. Cut into squares.
Store in airtight containers at room temperature.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 105; Fat: 7 g; Sodium: 77 mg; Cholesterol: 38 mg; Protein: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 10 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1 starch, 1 fat
BROWNIE PIE
This is from Elizabeth Mervosh at Allrecipes. Elizabeth wrote, "This brownie pie is rich and fudgy with a perfectly crisp crust. Definitely serve with ice cream, whipped cream, and salted caramel."
Prep Time: 30 minutes; Freeze Time: 30 minutes; Cool Time: 1 hour 30 minutes; Bake Time: 55 minutes; Total Time: 3 hours 25 minutes; Servings: 6; Yield: 1 brownie pie
To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/8487044/brownie-pie/.
Ingredients
Crust:
1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
3 tablespoons ice water, or more as needed
Filling:
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 large egg yolk, at room temperature
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons instant espresso granules
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or hazelnuts
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips, divided
Directions
For the crust, combine flour, sugar, and teaspoon salt in a food processor and pulse about 3 times until combined. Scatter cold butter over flour mixture in food processor. Pulse about 6 times until butter resembles pea-sized pieces. Drizzle 3 tablespoons water over butter mixture. Pulse about 6 times until couscous-like beads of dough form, adding 1 more tablespoon ice water if needed.
Transfer dough to a work surface, and press into a single mass. Shape and flatten dough into a disk. Wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for at least 1 hour or up to 2 days.
Unwrap dough and place on a lightly floured work surface. Let dough sit at room temperature for 10 minutes to soften. Dust top of dough with flour. Using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll disk into a 12-inch circle. Place in a 9-inch pie plate, pressing into bottom and up sides of pie plate. Fold edges under, and crimp as desired. Cover with plastic wrap, and freeze for 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place parchment paper over dough in pie plate; fill with pie weights or dried beans.
Bake in the preheated oven until crust is starting to set, about 15 minutes. Carefully remove pie plate from oven and take off parchment paper and pie weights. Return pie plate to oven, and bake until pie crust is light golden brown, 8 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack; let cool to room temperature, about 20 minutes.
Whisk together melted butter, sugar, eggs, egg yolk, canola oil, and vanilla extract in a bowl until blended and smooth. Whisk in cocoa, flour, instant espresso, and salt just until combined. Stir in nuts and 1/4 cup chocolate chips. Scrape mixture into cooled crust, and smooth top with a small offset spatula. Sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup chocolate chips on top of the pie.
Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes, covering the crust with aluminum foil if it gets too dark. Let cool 20 minutes before serving.
FROSTED PEPPERMINT BROWNIES
This is from Betty Crocker, and begins, “Easy brownie-mix brownies get dressed up for the holidays with frosting and crushed peppermint candy.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes; Servings: 16
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 box (16 oz) Betty Crocker™ Supreme original brownie mix
Water, oil and egg called for on brownie mix box
1-1/4 cups Betty Crocker™ Rich & Creamy vanilla frosting (from 16 oz container)
1/8 teaspoon mint or peppermint extract
Betty Crocker™ green or pink gel food color
Peppermint or spearmint candies, crushed, if desired
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Grease bottom of 9-inch square pan with shortening or cooking spray. Make and bake brownie batter as directed on box. Cool completely on cooling rack, about 1-1/2 hours. In small bowl, stir together frosting, extract and food color until smooth. Spread frosting evenly over brownies. Sprinkle with crushed candies. For easier cutting, refrigerate about 15 minutes until frosting is set. Cut into 4 rows by 4 rows. Store covered at room temperature.
Expert Tips
Cut brownies into bite-size pieces and serve in holiday paper liners for easy dessert pickups.
Check out today's six brownie recipes, including Frosted Peppermint Brownies and Nutella® Ganache Brownies. Enjoy!
CHEWY PICNIC BROWNIES
This is from the July/August 2009 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 61. It begins, "Using cocoa powder and semisweet chocolate allowed us to cut back on the traditional high-fat, high-sugar ingredient quantities in brownies and still have a satisfyingly chewy, chocolaty dessert." Makes 16 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/chewy-picnic-brownies/.
Ingredients
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
6 oz. semisweet or bittersweet chocolate
6 oz. (1-1/2 sticks) nonhydrogenated margarine or butter, cut into 1-1/2 cups light brown sugar
3 large eggs, beaten
Preparation
Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt in large bowl. Preheat oven to 325°F. Coat 9-inch square baking pan with cooking spray.
Melt chocolate and margarine in double boiler. Remove from heat, and whisk until smooth.
Stir brown sugar into chocolate-butter mixture. Stir in dry ingredients. Fold in beaten eggs. Spread in prepared baking pan, and bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until brownies look set, but still soft in center. Cool. Slice into squares.
SUPERFAST FUDGE BROWNIES
This recipe comes from The Working Stiff Cookbook, by Bob Sloan and illustrated by Michael Klein. I absolutely love this cookbook. Even vegetarians can find plenty to love in it. The great thing about this recipe is that it really doesn't take much longer than a boxed mix, and is so much better!
The recipe starts with, "The perfect comfort food to go with your burgers. (Burger Bliss was on the preceding page.) Brownies always lift the spirits. Especially these brownies. They're fast, easy, and foolproof." I agree!
Ingredients
8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter (or margarine), cut into 4 pieces
1/2 cup Dutch-process unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 extra-large eggs
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
Directions
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Butter an 8-by-8-inch baking pan.
In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, melt the butter with the cocoa powder, stirring continuously until the butter is just melted. Use a rubber spatula to transfer the butter mixture to a large mixing bowl and let it cool for 2 minutes. Add the sugar and vanilla and stir with a wooden spoon until combined. Add the eggs one at a time, stirring until each is well combined. Add the flour and stir just until combined. Do not overmix.
Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and bake on the center rack of the oven for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with tiny crumbs on it. Serve warm or at room temperature.
NUTELLA® GANACHE BROWNIES
This is from Betty Crocker, and begins, “Next time you need a party dessert or just want to pamper someone special (you’re special, by the way), this is your recipe. Betty’s perfect brownies get topped with a glossy ganache and pretty sprinkle of toasted hazelnut for an impressive look that also hints at the secret ingredient: Nutella™! This delectable chocolate-hazelnut spread gets added to the ganache—a fudgy frosting made of chocolate and heavy cream—giving it extra chocolaty flavor, hint of nuttiness, and a lot of ooey-gooey texture. This simple ganache is made in the microwave, so it’s extra quick, and Betty’s brownies start with a mix, which means this spectacular dessert is actually super easy—only 15 minutes of hands-on time required!”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 4 hours 20 minutes; Servings: 16
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 box (16 oz) Betty Crocker™ Supreme original brownie mix
Water, vegetable oil and egg called for on brownie mix box
1/2 cup Nutella® hazelnut spread with cocoa
1/3 cup dark chocolate chips
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1/3 cup chopped hazelnuts (filberts), toasted, skinned
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Grease bottom of 9-inch square pan with shortening or cooking spray. Make brownie batter as directed on box. Spread in pan.
Bake 28 to 31 minutes or until toothpick inserted 2 inches from side of pan comes out almost clean. Cool completely on cooling rack, about 1-1/2 hours.
In medium microwavable bowl, microwave hazelnut spread, chocolate chips and whipping cream uncovered on High 30 seconds. Stir; continue to microwave in 15-second increments, stirring after each, until smooth. Pour hazelnut mixture over baked brownie; spread over top. Sprinkle nuts over top. Refrigerate uncovered about 2 hours or until hazelnut mixture is set. Store loosely covered in refrigerator.
Expert Tips
Removing hazelnut skins can be time-consuming, but we’ve got a method that makes it efficient. Toast nuts at 375°F 10 to 12 minutes, stirring twice. Remove from oven; let stand 5 minutes. Then, pour nuts into clean kitchen towel, and gather tightly into a bundle. Rub vigorously with towel to remove skins.
If you want to skip a step, look for skinned hazelnuts. Hint: They’re sometimes called filberts. To toast skinned hazelnuts, set oven to 350°F. Spread skinned hazelnuts on ungreased baking sheet. Bake uncovered 6 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until light brown. Keep a close eye on toasting nuts, as they can quickly become too dark.
No matter what, don’t skip the toasting step. It adds depth of flavor and brings out the richness of the nuts while also giving them a pretty warm brown color.
Microwave ovens vary, so carefully watch ganache mixture during this step. We highly recommend following the directions to help avoid burning.
The trick to cleanly removing brownies from the pan is to line it with foil. To easily do so, flip your pan upside down. Wrap the foil around the bottom of the pan, leaving a little extra length on either side—this length will serve as “handles” later—then cut your piece. When you turn the pan over, you’ll have the perfect-sized and preshaped piece of foil. After baking, allow brownies to cool completely before lifting out of pan by foil “handles.”
To serve clean-cut pieces, cut with sharp knife, and clean blade after each cut.
Nutella® is a chocolate-hazelnut spread usually found in the same aisle as peanut butter, jellies and jams. If you find yourself a fan, check out the rest of Betty’s chocolate-hazelnut desserts.
DOUBLE CHOCOLATE BROWNIES
This is from Diabetic Gourmet, and begins, "Applesauce replaces part of the fat, Equal all of the sugar, plus you get double the chocolate flavor with both cocoa and chocolate chips – so who can resist these delicious brownies?"
Recipe Yield: Yield: 16 brownies
Source: Equal
Recipe and image appear courtesy of Equal.
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipe/double-chocolate-brownies.
Ingredients
6 tablespoons stick butter, softened
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup Equal Spoonful*
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips or mini chocolate chips
6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Optional: Chopped Walnuts
* May substitute 24 packets Equal sweetener
Directions
Beat butter, applesauce, eggs, and vanilla until blended. Stir in combined flour, Equal, chocolate chips, cocoa, baking powder, nuts (optional) and salt until blended.
Spread batter in sprayed 8-inch square baking pan. Bake in a preheated 350F oven 18 to 20 minutes or until top springs back when gently touched. Cool completely on wire rack. Cut into squares.
Store in airtight containers at room temperature.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 105; Fat: 7 g; Sodium: 77 mg; Cholesterol: 38 mg; Protein: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 10 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1 starch, 1 fat
BROWNIE PIE
This is from Elizabeth Mervosh at Allrecipes. Elizabeth wrote, "This brownie pie is rich and fudgy with a perfectly crisp crust. Definitely serve with ice cream, whipped cream, and salted caramel."
Prep Time: 30 minutes; Freeze Time: 30 minutes; Cool Time: 1 hour 30 minutes; Bake Time: 55 minutes; Total Time: 3 hours 25 minutes; Servings: 6; Yield: 1 brownie pie
To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/8487044/brownie-pie/.
Ingredients
Crust:
1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
3 tablespoons ice water, or more as needed
Filling:
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 large egg yolk, at room temperature
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons instant espresso granules
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or hazelnuts
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips, divided
Directions
For the crust, combine flour, sugar, and teaspoon salt in a food processor and pulse about 3 times until combined. Scatter cold butter over flour mixture in food processor. Pulse about 6 times until butter resembles pea-sized pieces. Drizzle 3 tablespoons water over butter mixture. Pulse about 6 times until couscous-like beads of dough form, adding 1 more tablespoon ice water if needed.
Transfer dough to a work surface, and press into a single mass. Shape and flatten dough into a disk. Wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for at least 1 hour or up to 2 days.
Unwrap dough and place on a lightly floured work surface. Let dough sit at room temperature for 10 minutes to soften. Dust top of dough with flour. Using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll disk into a 12-inch circle. Place in a 9-inch pie plate, pressing into bottom and up sides of pie plate. Fold edges under, and crimp as desired. Cover with plastic wrap, and freeze for 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place parchment paper over dough in pie plate; fill with pie weights or dried beans.
Bake in the preheated oven until crust is starting to set, about 15 minutes. Carefully remove pie plate from oven and take off parchment paper and pie weights. Return pie plate to oven, and bake until pie crust is light golden brown, 8 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack; let cool to room temperature, about 20 minutes.
Whisk together melted butter, sugar, eggs, egg yolk, canola oil, and vanilla extract in a bowl until blended and smooth. Whisk in cocoa, flour, instant espresso, and salt just until combined. Stir in nuts and 1/4 cup chocolate chips. Scrape mixture into cooled crust, and smooth top with a small offset spatula. Sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup chocolate chips on top of the pie.
Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes, covering the crust with aluminum foil if it gets too dark. Let cool 20 minutes before serving.
FROSTED PEPPERMINT BROWNIES
This is from Betty Crocker, and begins, “Easy brownie-mix brownies get dressed up for the holidays with frosting and crushed peppermint candy.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes; Servings: 16
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 box (16 oz) Betty Crocker™ Supreme original brownie mix
Water, oil and egg called for on brownie mix box
1-1/4 cups Betty Crocker™ Rich & Creamy vanilla frosting (from 16 oz container)
1/8 teaspoon mint or peppermint extract
Betty Crocker™ green or pink gel food color
Peppermint or spearmint candies, crushed, if desired
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Grease bottom of 9-inch square pan with shortening or cooking spray. Make and bake brownie batter as directed on box. Cool completely on cooling rack, about 1-1/2 hours. In small bowl, stir together frosting, extract and food color until smooth. Spread frosting evenly over brownies. Sprinkle with crushed candies. For easier cutting, refrigerate about 15 minutes until frosting is set. Cut into 4 rows by 4 rows. Store covered at room temperature.
Expert Tips
Cut brownies into bite-size pieces and serve in holiday paper liners for easy dessert pickups.
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