Amazing Brownies

This is a truly amazing brownie recipe. Very rich and chocolatey. I've been meaning to post the recipe for a while but I keep forgetting. It kind of has weird measurements...

2 1/4 sticks of butter or margarine (about 1 cup + 2 tbsp)

2 1/4 cups sugar

5 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

3/4 cup + 1 tbsp flour

3/4 cup + 1 tbsp cocoa

1 tsp salt

1/2 cup chocolate chips

(Optional 3/4 cup nuts or 1/2 cup other flavoured chips, ie white chocolate, butterscotch or peanut butter)

Preheat oven to 350. Line a 9x13 pan with parchment paper and then spray with PAM. In a saucepan melt together butter and sugar, until butter is completely melted. Allow to cool slightly, then transfer to mixing bowl. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Stir in vanilla. Add flour, cocoa and salt. Stir gently until well incorporated. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts. Bake for 35 min. Cool completely before cutting. 

Peanut Butter Fudge Brownie Bars

1 cup margarine
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/4 cups flour
2/3 cups cocoa
1/4 milk
1 1/4 cup nuts (I used walnuts)
1/2 cup margarine
1 2/3 cups (1 pkg) peanut butter chips
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1/4 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350. Grease 9x13 pan. Melt margarine. Beat margarine with sugar, eggs and vanilla. Add flour, cocoa and milk. Beat well. Stir in 1 cup nuts. Pour into pan. Bake 25-30 minutes. Cool completely. Melt 1/2 cup margarine with peanut butter chips over low heat. Add sweetened condensed milk and stir until smooth. Pour over brownies. Melt 1/4 cup chocolate chips. Drizzle over bars. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup nuts. Refrigerate until firm.

Chocolate Caramel Hazelnut Brownies

This is my new favorite recipe. I haven't had a chance to post it yet though, I've made it three times so far, I think.

Chocolate Caramel Hazelnut Brownies
(I made these ones with walnuts)

1 cup hazelnuts (or other nuts work well)
3 cups flour
1 1/2 cups cocoa
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 cup melted butter (or margarine)
2 2/3 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
14 oz (about 400 g) caramels, unwrapped
2 tbsp milk
2 cups chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350. If using hazelnuts, toast the hazelnuts at 350 for about 10 minutes, turning once. Then rub off the loose skins with a tea towel. (This will be very messy) Chop hazelnuts. Line a 9x13 pan with tin foil and grease with PAM. Whisk together flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt. Set aside. Mix together melted butter and sugar. Then add eggs and vanilla. Then slowly add the flour/cocoa mixture 1/2 cup at a time. When you are done the dough will be very thick. Spread the batter into the 9x13 pan. Put caramels and milk into a bowl. Microwave in 30 second increments, stirring after each, until they are well melted and combined. Mix in 1/2 cup nuts and then pour over batter. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes. Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle with chocolate chips. Let the chocolate chips melt for about 2 minutes then spread them melted chocolate with a spatula so that it covers the whole surface. Sprinkle the rest of the nuts on top of the chocolate. Allow chocolate and caramel to harden (this takes several hours, you may want to put it in the fridge) then cut into squares and enjoy.

Like I said, this is my new favorite recipe. Although it should be noted that you must bake this in a 9x13 pan, putting it in a smaller pan and then experimenting with the baking time does not work! Either the brownies don't cook thoroughly or the caramel overcooks and burns. But other than that I love these brownies. I've taken then to YA and to a party and shared them with people who come to visit and they always seem to be a hit. Although my brother can't have them because of the caramel and his braces.

Cheesecake Brownies and My Famous Oatmeal Cookies

Originally posted on Facebook May 11, 2009

Cheesecake Brownies

3/4 cup cocoa
1 cup butter or margarine
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup softened cream cheese
1/3 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 tbsp flour

Preheat oven to 350. Melt together butter and cocoa. Whisk into a bowl with sugar, eggs and vanilla. Stir in flour, baking powder, and salt. Pour half into a 8x8 pan lined with parchment paper. In another bowl cream together cream cheese and sugar. Beat in egg, vanilla and flour. Pour oven bottom brownie layer. Drop in the rest of the brownie goo and swirl with a knife or fork. Bake for 35 min. Let cool, refrigerate for 4-8 hours, or more. Cut into squares.

Mmmm, cheesecake and brownie together....

Oatmeal Cookies

1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
1 cup butter
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
2 tbsp milk
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
2 cups rolled oats
2 cups chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350. Cream together sugars and butter. Stir in eggs, vanilla and milk. Add in flour, soda and powder. Mix in rolled oats. Mix in chocolate chips and stir until well blended. Bake for 10 min.

This is the traditional recipe I've been making for years. And I forgot to take a picture, but chances are most people I know have had them once before. EDIT: Picture now added.

Classic Brownies with a Twist

Originally posted on Facebook June 30, 2009

I still haven't used up all the ingredients I bought when I was baking for my Grandma's birthday. The nuts will probably be going bad soon, so I decided to use them. I made my classic brownie recipe but then I added a twist. I took them to work today and they went over very well.

1/2 cup margarine (or butter)
6 tbsp cocoa powder (when doubling the recipe this equals about 3/4 cup)
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2/3 cup flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup nuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350. Grease 8x8 pan. Melt margarine and cocoa powder. Set aside. Beat eggs. Beat in vanilla and sugar. Add cocoa mixture. Mix well. Add dry ingredients. Mix well. Pour into pan. Bake for 25 minutes.

I doubled the recipe and put it in a 9x13 pan. For nuts I used walnuts and for a twist I threw in about half a package of white chocolate chips for an extra surprise. They turned out rather well.