Take it from Oprah, “A little bit cakey, a little bit fudgey, a lot velvety—there’s nothing like a deep, dark, classic chocolate brownie.”
I’ve been wanting to try the famous brownie recipe from Baked: New Frontiers in Baking for quite some time now. To say that the recipe did not disappoint is a severe understatement. These are by far the best brownies I have ever made. Ever! Fudgey and decadent, any true chocoholic is sure to fall deeply in love with these babies.
And although their fudgey perfection on its own is enough to make me not think twice about having to chop and melt chocolate, it never hurts to add a little decorating fun to the process!
How To Make Baked Brownies
Get ready by setting 5 large eggs out on the counter to reach room temperature, preheating your oven to 350, and greasing a 9 x 13 baking pan.
Whisk together 1-1/4 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder. The authors of Baked recommend that you use a dark unsweetened cocoa powder. In fact, they specifically suggest the brand Valrhona. If, like me, you’re not able to find it, trust me, your brownies will still be phenomenal.
In preparation for the next step, chop up 11 ounces of dark chocolate. Unlike the cocoa powder, I was able to find the recommended dark chocolate, Scharffen Berger’s Home Baking Bar 70%, at the grocery store. Rocking a sharp knife back and forth on the surface of the chocolate broke it up into coarse pieces without too much trouble.
Fill a saucepan half way full of water and bring it to a simmer. On top of the saucepan, not touching the water, set a bowl containing your chopped chocolate, 1 cup of unsalted butter that has been cut into 1-inch pieces, and 1 teaspoon of instant espresso powder (not ground espresso). Stir the mixture occasionally until it is melted.
While continuing to keep your bowl on top of the saucepan, turn off the burner. Add 1-1/2 cups of granulated sugar and 1/2 cup of light brown sugar to the mixture and stir to combine. Once you have a nice smooth chocolaty liquid that is making your mouth water, take your bowl off of the saucepan. Double check that the mixture is at room temperature before continuing.
Whisk 3 of your room temperature eggs into your chocolate and then whisk in the last 2 eggs. Stir in 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract, being careful not to overmix.
Fold your flour mixture into your chocolate mixture. Make sure you use a spatula and avoid overmixing by folding just until the flour has almost completely disappeared.
Finally, pour your mixture into your pan and set it in the oven to bake for 30 minutes, turning the pan half way through. Check your brownies using the toothpick test before the full 30 minutes has passed. The last thing you want to do is ruin these babies by over baking them!
Let your brownies cool completely before cutting them. Serve them as-is or do a little simple decorating to liven them up a bit!
How To Decorate Baked Brownies
To decorate your brownies, you will need:
– Powdered sugar
– A sifter
– Wilton Color Mist in any color (I used pink)
– Ribbon or a stencil of your choice
To add colorful stripes to your brownies, start by cutting strips of ribbon and setting them on a brownie in the areas you want to block out. Then, use a sifter to sprinkle powdered sugar over the entire surface of the brownie. Continue sprinkling the sugar until the surface is completely covered. Gently remove the ribbon from the brownies surface. Removing the ribbons before spraying your brownies with color makes it easier to cover all of the white sugar.
Follow the directions on your Color Mist can to spray color onto the powdered sugar. Since the brownie surface is dark, the color will only show on the sugar. Spray a light mist onto the sugar, give it a moment to somewhat dry and then add another layer of color if desired. Continue layering the colored spray until you reach your desired color.
If you prefer to decorate your brownies with a pattern other than stripes, simply replace the ribbon with a stencil of your choice.
These brownies will, without a doubt, be my go-to treat when I’m looking for something to satisfy a chocolate craving. I can’t wait to try another recipe from Baked: New Frontiers in Baking!
- 5 large eggs
- 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp. salt
- 2 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
- 11 oz. dark chocolate
- 1 cup unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 tsp. instant espresso powder
- 1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- 2 tsp. vanilla extract
- For decorating:
- ½ to 1 cup powdered sugar
- Wilton's Color Mist in any color
- Set eggs out on the counter to reach room temperature.
- Preheat oven to 350 and grease a 9 x 13 baking pan.
- Whisk together flour, salt, and cocoa powder.
- Chop dark chocolate into coarse pieces.
- Fill a saucepan half way full of water and bring it to a simmer. On top of the saucepan, not touching the water, set a bowl containing your chopped chocolate, butter, and espresso powder. Stir the mixture occasionally until it is melted.
- While continuing to keep your bowl on top of the saucepan, turn off the burner. Add sugars to the mixture and stir to combine.
- Take bowl off of the saucepan. Double check that the mixture is at room temperature before continuing.
- Whisk 3 eggs into your chocolate and then whisk in the last 2 eggs.
- Stir in vanilla extract, being careful not to overmix.
- Fold flour mixture into your chocolate mixture. Avoid overmixing by folding just until the flour has almost completely disappeared.
- Pour your into pan and set it in the oven to bake for 30 minutes, turning the pan half way through.
- Let brownies cool completely before cutting them.
- To decorate brownies, place a stencil or ribbon in areas you don't want colored.
- Cover the entire surface with powdered sugar using a sifter.
- Spray layers of color onto the sugar using Wilton's Color Mist.
For more brownie decorating inspiration, check out Brownies for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.
Ready for more chocolaty temptation?
How about some Decorated Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats!
Or maybe Chocolate Cookies with Raspberry Royal Icing are more your style!
These look so awesome, Janine! And, I love the idea of using color mist spray!! I may have to give that a try someday
Jennifer @ Not Your Momma’s Cookie recently posted..Easy Chai Ice Cream
Thanks, Jennifer! I was just thinking that this would be a super easy way to make some patriotic brownies for the 4th.
Lovely work, Janine! Would you be happy to link it in to the current Food on Friday which is collecting snacks and treats? This is the link . I do hope to see you there. There are already a lot of links for you to check out. Cheers
Thanks for the invite, Carole!
Janine, thanks for stopping by. I have signed up to follow you on my new bestie – Bloglovin. Cheers
Thanks for the follow, Carole!
Mmmm, fudgy brownies! And I’ve got to try the color mist, it sounds so cool! Thanks for linking!
Michelle recently posted..Olive Oil Pasta
Thanks for stopping by to check out my decorated brownies, Michelle!
Wonderful and amazing~ Thanks for sharing:) Lynn
Lynn H @ Turnips 2 Tangerines recently posted..Praline Pecan Brownies
Thanks for stopping by to check out my decorated brownies, Lynn!
These are really cute brownies!! Hoping over from Sweet Sharing Monday Link Party!
Thanks, Nancy! Brownies get kinda neglected when it comes to decorating.
These are just beautiful!
I wish we had here Wilton color mist (but we don’t)
Can you order from Amazon, Winnie?
Love your decor for these brownies! See creative.
Tina @ Tina’s Chic Corner recently posted..Soft Peanut Butter Cookies
Thanks, Tina! The best thing about decorating brownies this way is its super easy!
These look so yummy. So glad you shared. I am sharing these on my FB.
Hugs,
Marcie
https://www.facebook.com/IGottaTryThat
I Gotta Try That recently posted..Sweet Briar Sisters Patterns
Thanks for sharing, Marcie!
I love these, they look so inviting and pretty! You could do any colour for any season, holiday- now I am getting some great ideas Found you via Real Family Fun.
Lauren recently posted..Treasures from the Past
I hear ya, Lauren! How easy would it be to make some patriotic brownies for the 4th using this technique!
Super cute brownies! Love the hot pink!
Tenns @ New Mama Diaries recently posted..Pregnancy Update | 24 week appt.
Thanks, Tenns!
They look so pretty and so yummy!
KC
KC @ The Real Thing with the Coake Family recently posted..Chalkboard Labels for Organized Toy Storage
Thanks, KC!
Whoa! These are so fun and fantastic! They’d be great at a baby shower or a wedding shower, I think! Thank you so much for linking up with me this week at Tasty Tuesdays! I’ve pinned this & shared it with my followers! Please be sure to stop back by the party and check out some of the other links!
Anyonita recently posted..Rory O’Connell’s Grilled Cod with Roast Cumin and Tomato and Coriander Simple Sauce
Thanks for sharing, Anyonita!
These are so pretty and look delicious! I would have to control myself to decorate them before I eat them all! Thank you so much for sharing! I came over from Anyonita’s party!
Lizy @ http://justdipitinchocolate.blogspot.com/ recently posted..Peach Crisp Pizza Recipe
Licking the spatula is a small trip to heaven, Lizy!
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