I've been searching for the perfect brownie recipe for a while. I don't understand cakey brownies - I want brownies that are fudgey and almost still a bit raw, but with a crisp, papery top. When you want chocolate, you want chocolate. This is my version of Ina's "outrageous" brownies.
Ingredients:
½ lb unsalted butter
8 oz plus 6 oz semisweet chocolate chips [I've also made with semi-sweet or dark chocolate bars]
3 oz bitter chocolate
3 extra-large eggs
1-4 tsp instant coffee granules (depending on whether you like more of a mocha flavor)
1 TB vanilla extract
1 ⅛ c. sugar
½ c. plus 2 TB flour
1 ½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
Optional: ½ c. chopped walnuts
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Butter and line a 9x12 baking pan with parchment paper.
Melt together the butter, 8oz of chocolate chips, and the bitter chocolate in a medium bowl over simmering water. Allow to cool slightly. In a large bowl, stir (do not beat) together the eggs, coffee granules, vanilla, and sugar. Slowly drizzle the warm chocolate mixture into the egg mixture and allow to cool to room temperature.
In a medium bowl, sift together 1 cup of flour, the baking powder, and salt. Add to the cooled chocolate mixture. Toss the walnuts and 12 ounces of chocolate chips in a medium bowl with 1/4 cup of flour, then add them to the chocolate batter. Pour into the baking sheet.
Bake for 20 minutes, then rap the baking sheet against the oven shelf to force the air to escape from between the pan and the brownie dough. Bake for about 15 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Do not overbake! Allow to cool thoroughly, refrigerate, and cut into 12 large squares. [My trick is to use a plastic disposable knife to cut the brownies - for some reason you get a cleaner cut without losing so much brownie sticking to the knife!]
I added too much instant coffee the first time I made these - I cut it back significantly this time. Ina swears that "you don't taste the coffee, it just makes the chocolate more chocolatey," but I call BS. If you love mocha/coffee flavor, amp it up, if not, cut it way back. These have the perfect texture - you can see that crackly top and fudge center!
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