Classic Brownies

Name: Classic Brownies
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 24 brownies
Ingredients: 4 ounces pecans (optional) or 4 ounces walnuts, chopped (optional); 1 1/4 cups cake flour; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 3/4 teaspoon baking powder; 6 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped fine; 12 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 6 one-inch pieces; 2 1/4 cups sugar; 4 large eggs; 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Submitted by xtine

"From Cook's Illustrated."

Download

Ready In:: 1hr
Ingredients:: 9
Yields:: 24 brownies

ingredients

4 ounces pecans (optional) or 4 ounces walnuts, chopped (optional)
1 ¹⁄₄ cups cake flour
¹⁄₂ teaspoon salt
³⁄₄ teaspoon baking powder
6 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped fine
12 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 6 one-inch pieces
2 ¹⁄₄ cups sugar
4 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

directions

Adjust the oven rack to the middle position; heat oven to 325º F.
Cut an 18 inch length of foil and fold lengthwise to an 8 inch width. Fit foil into length of 13 by 9 inch baking dish, pushing it into corners and up sides of pan; allow excess to overhang pan edges. Cut 14 inch length foil and, if using extra-wide foil, fold lengthwise to 12-inch width; fit into width of baking pan in same manner, perpendicular to first sheet. Spray foil-lined pan with non-stick cooking spray.
If using nuts, spread nuts evenly on rimmed baking sheet and toast in oven until fragrant, 5 to 8 minutes. Set aside to cool.
Whisk to combine flour, salt, and baking powder in medium bowl; set aside.
Place chocolate and butter in a large, microwave-safe bowl and heat in microwave on high for 45 seconds, then stir and heat for 30 seconds more. Stir again and, if necessary, repeat in 15 second increments; do not let the chocolate burn.
When chocolate mixture is completely smooth, gradually whisk in the sugar. Add eggs one at a time, whisking after each addition until thoroughly combined. Whisk in vanilla.
Add flour mixture in three additions, folding with rubber spatula until batter is completely smooth and homogenous.
Transfer batter to prepared pan; using spatula, spread batter into corners of pan and smooth surface. Sprinkle toasted nuts (if using) evenly over batter and bake until toothpick inserted into center of brownies comes out with few moist crumbs attached, 30 to 35 minutes.
Cool on wire rack to room temperature, about 2 hours, then remove brownies from pan by lifting foil overhang. Cut brownies into 2-inch squares and serve.

Questions & Replies

Got a question? Share it with the community!

Reviews

Have any thoughts about this recipe? Share it with the community!

RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

xtine

I'm originally from Atlanta, GA, but I now live in Brooklyn, NY with my husband, cat, and dog. I'm a film and video editor, but cooking is my main hobby - if you can call something you do multiple times a day a hobby. I enjoy all types of food, from molecular gastronomy to 70's suburban Mom type stuff. While I like to make recipes from cookbooks by true chefs, I don't turn my nose up at Campbell's Cream of Mushroom - I'm not a food snob. I love foods from all nations/cultures, and I am fortunate enough to live in NYC so I can go to restaurants which serve food from pretty much anywhere on the globe. Because of this most of my recipes tend to be in the Western European/American food tradition - I find it easier to pay the experts for more complicated delicacies such as Dosai, Pho & Injera. I really enjoy having so many great food resources available to me here in NYC. One of my favorite stores is Kalustyan's http://www.kalustyans.com/ they have every spice, bean, & grain in the world. If there's something you can't find, look on their website. I bet they'll have it and they can ship it to you! Many of my recipes are Southern, because that's the food I grew up on. I hope the recipes I have posted here will be useful to folks out in the 'zaar universe! <img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/Adopted1smp.jpg border=0 alt=Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket /> <img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/smPACp.jpg border=0 alt=Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket /> <img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/PACfall08partic.jpg border=0 alt=Photobucket /> <img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/IWasAdoptedfall08.jpg border=0 alt=Photobucket /> <img src=http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e110/flower753/Food/my3chefsnov2008.jpg alt= />

View Full Profile