Merry Christmas - Brownies!

One of my "borrowed" kids texted me earlier today. She's recently moved back home and can't find her copy of the cookbook in her boxes of stuff. I totally relate, I moved a lot when I was in college - 6 times in one year! So, at her request, I'm posting the brownie recipe from the cookbook so it's easily accessible for her. 

This is my basic brownie recipe, there are lots of variations I do to this recipe and it's highly adaptable. So get creative with it!

Equipment You’ll Need

·        9”x13” or 7”x15” or 2 - 8”x8” pans or mini-muffin tin

·        Whisk or mixer

·        Silicone spatula or wooden spoon

·        Large and medium/small mixing bowls (2)

·        Microwavable cup large enough to accommodate the butter or small sauce pan

·        Measuring cups and spoons

·        Baking spray or extra softened butter and flour or parchment paper

  

Groceries Needed

1 ⅔ cups sugar

¾ cups butter, melted

2 tbsp milk

3 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

1 ⅓ cups flour

¾ cup unsweetened cocoa or 3 oz. melted unsweetened baker’s chocolate

½ tsp baking powder

¼ tsp salt

1 cup choc chips (minis work best)

½ tsp instant coffee or espresso

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Use a baking spray, parchment paper, or grease and flour baking pans
2. In one bowl, mix together the flour, cocoa, baking powder, salt and chocolate chips.
3. Melt butter in a microwave or a sauce pan.
4. Pour melted butter into a mixing bowl, add the sugar and milk and mix on medium (or whisk by hand) until well creamed.
5. Add in the vanilla, coffee, and eggs. Continue mixing on medium until well blended. For a crunchier top, beat the eggs before adding them in.
6. Turn off the mixer as you’ll be doing the rest by hand. Add about ½ of the dry mix to the wet ingredients and stir in by hand (I tend to fold them in at first to cut down on cocoa “blow back”. Add the remaining dry and mix and stir in by hand until fully incorporated.
7. Pour batter into pan(s) and bake for 18-25 minutes or until a fork comes out clean. A little bit under-cooked is ok. Let the brownies completely cool in the pan.