Thursday, February 02, 2006

Being baked as we speak...

X-rated Brownies

1 c sugar
2 large eggs at room temp
pinch salt
5 oz best-quality semisweet chocolate (I use Lindt Excellence)
3 oz best-quality unsweetened chocolate (I use Callebaut)
2 sticks (1/2 pound) unsalted butter
¼ c all-purpose flour
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 c miniature chocolate chips
¾ c chopped walnuts
¾ c dried tart cherries (you can also use Craisins)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter an 8 or 9 inch square pan.

In a large bowl, beat the sugar, eggs and salt for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, melt the chocolates and butter in a double boiler over a low flame, or carefully in the microwave. When the mixture is about ¾ melted, take it off the heat and stir until everything is completely melted and the mixture is smooth. Cool to lukewarm and fold gently into the sugar/egg mixture. Fold in the flour, vanilla, and chips, walnuts and cherries.

Spread the mixture into the prepared pan and set in the middle of the oven. Bake them for 25 minutes. They will look not quite done. This is as it should be. Cool on a rack for 6 hours.
These are VERY rich, and will make 32 small but deadly brownies.



This time, some of the semi-sweet was replaced by Scharffenberger Chocolate Nibby Bars (they have bits of cocoa beans in them). Once these are cooled and cut, they'll go in the freezer in anticipation of the trip to the Gulf. I figure I owe St. Cass something more northerly with chocolate since she shared Quotidian Grace's chocolate cake recipe with us!

3 comments:

reverendmother said...

Why, why, oh WHY would you destroy the purity of the brownies by adding cherries?

They just take up Valuable Chocolate Space.

Reminds me of when I ordered the chocolate waffle at the Carlyle and discovered it, too, had cherries in it. I was bereft.

reverendmother said...

I am excited you're going to see Cass tho.

mibi52/ The Rev. Dr. Mary Brennan Thorpe said...

But they intensify the chocolate experience by adding a touch of tartness. Given the quantity of chocolate in these brownies, and the lack of flour, the cherries add something good. Of course, you can make them without the nuts or cherries and they're the total-intensity chocolate experience. I'll make you a batch (sans cherries) and bring them down so I can see the divine miss M and show you pictures of Mississippi...