Chewy Chocolate Brownies

 

The #brownielife started in the late 19th century, some claim they got their start in Chicago at the World’s Fair, while others are adamant that Bangor, Maine is the birthplace of such a fine confection. Whoever invented this, I don’t really care, I’m just glad that #brownielife is now a thing.

When I started my journey as a Susie Homemaker (my Dad’s words for me as I was a burgeoning home cook. weren’t the 90s just the best? what a time to be alive), one of the first things I learned how to make was brownies. But these were the brownie mixes that came from the box, still I didn’t care, the end result was always pretty delicious.

As I grew up I would always still use the box because I was a novice, but instead I would amp up the recipes by throwing in extras like peanut butter or flax seed. Sometimes the results were great, sometimes the results yielded what my Wife so affectionately described them as, “wet brick.”

 

 

Now as a grown ass adult, brownies are still one of my favorite things to eat I mean who doesn’t love biting into a soft brownie that has chunks of delicious chocolate morsels in it? Show me that person and I’ll know not to be friends with them forever until the end of time. (we can probably be friends, but man you’re on thin ice!) I mean my brownie love even extends to the cheap Little Debbie Snack Cake ones that have the little walnuts on them, if you’re having a bad day and you bite into one of those maaaaan you’re gonna be pretty happy afterwards. That is of course if you can control yourself to just one.

Brownies are incredibly simple to make and thats what makes them a great first dish for kids to learn, it’s essentially throw a bunch of ingredients in a bowl and mix them together. Obviously if you want them to be truly delicious a slight bit more finesse is required but the overall philosophy remains the same.

 

 

I adapted this recipe from Cook’s Illustrated because everything great comes from those people (at least it seems). This recipe is amazing, one time I ran out of flour and made it with Masa (corn flour) and it was STILL good. Although it did taste like I was eating a chocolate corn nacho brownie. Whatever. Don’t judge me.

Recipe – Chewy Chocolate Brownies

Ingredients

1.25 Cups of Flour (Sifted)

3/4 Teaspoon Baking Powder

8 Ounces of High Quality Chocolate (your preference) Cut into chunks

1 Cup of Semi-Dark Chocolate Chunks

12 Tbsp. of Unsalted Butter

1.5 Cups of Sugar

4 Large Eggs, Plus 1 Yolk

1 Tbsp. Vanilla Extract (Note, I make my own [because of course I do], it’s really easy just soak vanilla bean in vodka, you can cut one of them open you want, wait a few months and you’ll have better Vanilla than any crap from the store)

Method

Step 1- Preheat the oven to 325F, prep a 13 x 9 baking dish by placing aluminum foil inside the dish (this will help once it’s all cooked) spray it with cooking spray.

Step 2- Melt the chocolate (carefully, I usually melt it by putting the chocolate bowl in a water bath).

Step 3- Melt the butter and mix with the melted chocolate, then add sugar and mix.

Step 4- Separately, Mix the flour, sugar, and baking powder together.

Step 5 – Add the eggs and vanilla to the chocolate mixture, make sure the egg are completely incorporated, then fold in the dry mix. Add the chocolate chunks in and mix.

Step 6- Once everything is mixed, transfer to the baking dish, bake for 30 minutes. Check for doneness you don’t want it to be too dry, when you test with a fork or tooth pick a little bit of crumbs should stick to the fork.

Step 7 – Allow to cool for a hour then cut and enjoy!