Birthday Brownies!!

Today is my brother’s 23rd birthday. He just started a new job here in the city, so I delivered a homemade batch of brownies as a special birthday treat. As an added bonus, the note on the jar let him know that he should return the jar whenever he’s ready for a refill. Its a birthday gift that keeps on giving!

I found the jar at Crate & Barrel, and the brownie recipe comes from Ina Garten. This is my “go-to” brownie recipe — very decadent and rich. These keep very well for about a week in the fridge — just pop one in the microwave for 30 seconds to enjoy a warm, melty treat!!!!

Outrageous Brownies by Ina Garten

Ingredients
1 pound unsalted butter

1 pound plus 12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips, divided

6 ounces unsweetened chocolate

6 extra-large eggs
(if you don’t have extra large eggs, you can use 7 large eggs)
3 tablespoons instant coffee powder

2 tablespoons real vanilla extract

2 1/4 cups sugar

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, divided (1 cup for batter and 1/4 cup in the chips and nuts)

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon kosher salt

3 cups diced walnut pieces (optional)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 13 by 18 by 1 1/2-inch sheet pan.

Melt together the butter, 1 pound chocolate chips, and unsweetened chocolate on top of a double boiler. Cool slightly. Stir together the eggs, instant coffee, vanilla and sugar. Stir in the warm chocolate mixture and cool to room temperature.

Stir together 1 cup of the flour, baking powder and salt. Add to cooled chocolate mixture. Toss the walnuts and 12 ounces of chocolate chips with 1/4 cup flour to coat. Then add to the chocolate batter. Pour into prepared pan.

Bake for about 30 minutes, or until tester just comes out clean. Halfway through the baking, rap the pan against the oven shelf to allow air to escape from between the pan and the brownie dough. Do not over-bake! Cool thoroughly, refrigerate well and cut into squares.

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6 Comments for this entry

  1. Michal says:

    what a fabulous idea! and that brownie recipe looks amazing. i'll have to try it, as i'm always on the lookout for a great one. brownies are our favorites around here.

  2. Hope says:

    how did the new soap work in your laundry detergent? …curious in colorado

  3. Maureen says:

    The Fels-Naptha works much better than the Ivory. Only drawback is that there is a scent to it, and I really prefer unscented everything.

  4. sarahbadics says:

    I picked up the ingredients that I didn't have around the house today and am going to make them Thursday! Can't wait. If I have to use two smaller pans (since I don't have a sheet pan) is the cook time still the same?

  5. Maureen says:

    Not sure about the cooking time in two pans, but my guess is that it would be a bit less. The key here is not to over-bake the brownies. They should be really moist — if they are dry they are a bummer batch.

  6. Amber says:

    THey look delicious! I love ina garten!

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