After seeing so many delicious recipes in the blogosphere posted from the Baked cookbook, I eventually gave in, jumped over to Amazon, and ordered it for myself. I’ve had it for a few weeks now, but this was my first try at one of their recipes, and I started with their classic — the Baked brownie.
And ohhhhhh, what a brownie it is! I’m not exaggerating when I say this is the best brownie I’ve eaten, let alone made. It’s dense and fudgey, but not too gooey, and has just the right amount of crispy top. As you can tell from my recipe index, I’m a big fan of boxed brownie mixes but they can hardly be compared to this behemoth of a brownie. Sure, if you’re making cute Santa hat brownie bites or a complicated brownie-cookie dough ice cream cake, it’s fine to cut corners and use a box so you can focus on the other elements, but when you’re serving the brownie straight up, I highly recommend tearing yourself away from the convenient boxes and into this cookbook.
It’s Ryan’s mom’s birthday next week, so we wrapped up a bunch to send to her, making sure to keep a few for ourselves — there was no way we were going to give them all away, especially when there’s still some cookies ‘n cream ice cream around…
The Baked Brownie
From Baked: New Frontiers in Baking
1-1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp dark unsweetened cocoa powder
11 oz dark chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 1 inch pieces
1 tsp instant espresso powder
1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
5 large eggs, at room temperature
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
– Preheat oven to 350 degrees
– Butter the sides and bottom of a 9×13 Pyrex baking pan
– In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and cocoa
– Put the chocolate, butter, and instant espresso powder in a large bowl and set over a saucepan of simmering water, stirring occasionally utnil the chocolate and butter are completely melted and smooth
– Turn off the heat, but keep the bowl over the water and add the sugars. Whisk until completely combined, then remove the bowl from the pan. Allow mixture to come to room temperature
– Add 3 eggs to the chocolate mixture and mix until combined. Add the remaining eggs and whisk until combined.
– Add the vanilla and stir until combined. Do not overbeat the batter at this stage or brownies will be cakey.
– Sprinkle the flour mixture over the chocolate mixture and using a spatula (not a whisk), fold the flour mixture into the chocolate until just a bit of the flour mixture is visible.
– Pour the batter into the pan and smooth the top
– Bake in the center of the oven for 30 minutes, rotating pan halfway through, until toothpick inserted comes out clean
– Let the brownies cool completely, then cut them into squares
Best brownie? I’d have to agree!
I have to try this recipe. I always use a box mix too, but these sound great. The book sounds great, but I cannot tell on Amazon if there is a picture for each recipe. Is there? I have a picture if I make a recipe. :)
p.s. I just made the chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter whipped frosting for my husband’s birthday. They are his new favorite! :) Thanks!
Those look A-MAZING!!!
yeah I’ve heard really good things about this brownie. It is definitely on the list of brownies to inhale sometime soon!
what are you trying to DO to meeee over here???!
I came across your blog from goodgawker! I’ve bought Baked recently as well and have not yet made anythign from it. You’ve convinced me to bake this first ;)
I just discovered your blog…super cute, love the colors! I can’t wait to look around! These brownies look absolutely amazing!
They look amazing! Interesting how they’ve got espresso powder in them – did they taste like coffee at all? Thanks for the tip about the book :)
I just made these and cut them into footballs for an Orange Bowl Party!! I didn’t have any dark chocolate so I used a combination of semisweet and milk chocolate. So good!!! I’m sure they taste even better with dark chocolate :)
OH MY HEAVEN! Brownies are one of our favorite treats around this house. They’re easy to whip up and my hubby makes the best chocolate syrup. With a little vanilla bean ice cream makes it the perfect dessert! I will ABSOLUTELY be trying out this recipe. Thanks for posting!!
I’m baking it now! There’s a smell around here…i can’t wait!!!
I was just looking at a whole heap of recipes and you can add a layer of caramel mixed with milk into the middle
Yum I am going to do this as a celebration on Friday for the end of my school exams :)
Liza
hey!! i want to make these, but I have a problem: can we use baking dishes instead of baking pans? (the type that is made out of glass)
Thanks for sharing the recipe, can’t wait to try it!!
Erica — December 21st, 2012 @ 1:42 am
Yup dishes, pans, whatever – as long as there is non-stick spray involved, you’re good! Enjoy them, they’re amazinggg :)
I absolutely live this recipe! I searched a long time for the perfect brownies and this are definitely the one!
I have made it again and again! And I think I`ll make them again this weekend! I totally recommend it!
I love your blog!
Not an exaggeration, best brownie recipe I have yet encountered….and I’ve encountered many. THE PERFECT BROWNIE. So dangerous to have in the house….so dangerous. Warning! Bake them with the plan to give them away or you WILL EAT THEM ALLLLL.
thanks for sharing!! I’m anxious to try your other recipes.
hi do you have the measurments in grams please as i tried cups before and it goes completly wrong, thankyou xx
Erica — October 22nd, 2013 @ 10:55 pm
Sorry Janine but I don’t have them in grams! Maybe search online for it a bit, it’s a really popular recipe. Good luck :)
Question: I just made these brownies and followed the recipe exactly. They turned out pretty dry. Do you think I baked them too long? I baked them for 30 minutes in a gas oven that preheated to 350 for probably 30-45 minutes.
I’m just curious … they seem really great but too dry. I’m sure I must have done something wrong.
Can I swap the 5 large eggs out for something? Maybe like applesauce?