Chocolate Glazed Brownies

Chocolate on Chocolate!

Big Pete loves two kinds of desserts. He loves chocolate cakes of all kinds and chocolate cookies, that's it. All the other desserts I make he turns his nose up to.

This one is all for you Big Pete!

This is a simple brownie made in one bowl, mixed by hand and baked. If you are not a baker a brownie recipe is the easiest thing to try.

You will need:

• 4 oz chopped unsweetened chocolate
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter
• 1 3/4 cups sugar 
• 3 large eggs (room temperature)
• 2 tsp best quality vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp instant espresso powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 cup flour 
• 3/4 tsp baking powder
• 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Glaze

• 2 oz chopped semi sweet chocolate chips
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp water

9 x 9 inch baking pan or 7 x11 brownie pan 

Heat oven to 350 degrees F

Step 1: lightly butter and flour baking pan, tapping out extra flour. Set aside

Step 2: in a large microwaveable bowl put in chopped chocolate and chopped butter. Microwave for 30 seconds, stir once or twice. 

Step 3: microwave again for 40 seconds and stir a few times. It should look like this picture. The butter is melted and the chocolate might almost be melted completely. Stir a few times. If not completely melted,  microwave a third time for 20 seconds.

Step 4: stir until completely melted and incorporated.

Step 5: add sugar into hot chocolate and mix until well blended.

Step 6: add eggs, vanilla, espresso powder mix until incorporated well.

Step 7: add chopped nuts, flour, salt, baking powder and mix just until all flour is absorbed.

Step 8: pour into prepared pan, spreading evenly.

Step 9: bake 25-30 minutes. Do not over bake! Brownies are like cookies, it's far better to under bake a brownie or a cookie by a couple of minutes rather than over bake. 

If you like a chewier brownie bake 25 minutes, if you like a cakey brownie bake 30 minutes.

Cool in pan 10 minutes then flip on cookie rack to cool. 

Step 10: in a bowl add chocolate chips, butter and water. Melt in microwave for 30 seconds, stir and if necessary add  back to microwave for another 10 seconds. Stir until smooth.

I like to slice off the edges to make perfect pieces and serve on a lovely plate drizzled with as much glaze as you like. Add some ice cream to take it over the top! 

They store well in a sealed container on the counter for a few days or you can freeze them individually wrapped without the glaze. When you want a brownie you can take out what you need. You can also save the edges you cut off and keep them in a Ziploc bag in the freezer. The next time you want a brownie parfait add the brownie chunks to a glass, some ice cream, the glaze and you have another dessert with the same components.