Baking requires precision and a bit more patience than cooking. My daughter, Maggie, is a wonderful baker who far surpasses me in this department. When it comes time to bake something, I am always happy to turn the kitchen over to Maggie and let her do her magic. These brown butter brownies are a combination of a few recipes she has come across and tweaked into a dark-chocolate-lover’s dream. The texture is moist and surprisingly light for a brownie, while the dark chocolate flavor is enhanced by the rich nuttiness of the brown butter. These brownies are not overly sweet but just sweet enough. It’s the perfect way to end any meal.
Servings: Yields 16 brownies
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½ cup flour
½ cup Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa powder
¼ teaspoon salt
1 stick plus 2 tablespoons butter
1 ½ cups dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips
3 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla
1/3 cup white sugar
¾ cup light brown sugar
½ cup toasted chopped walnuts (optional)
1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8-by-8-inch pan with parchment paper. Sift together the flour, cocoa and salt in a mixing bowl. Set aside.
2. Place a small pot over medium-low heat and melt the butter. Once the butter is completely melted, raise the heat to medium.
3. Swirl the pot over the medium heat while the butter continues to cook for an additional 3 to 4 minutes. The butter is ready once it has turned a deep golden-brown color and smells nutty.
4. Turn off the heat and add a half-cup of the chocolate chips into the brown butter. Stir until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth and silky.
5. In a separate mixing bowl, add the eggs, vanilla and white and brown sugar. Use an electric mixer on high to beat everything for 5 minutes, or until the mixture is thick, fluffy and light in color. Turn the mixer to low, and carefully add the butter-chocolate mixture to the fluffed sugar and eggs until well blended.
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6. Use a rubber spatula to fold the dry ingredients into the wet until well combined. Add in the rest of the chocolate chips and the optional nuts. Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish.
7. Bake the brown butter brownies in the heated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a tester inserted into the middle comes out clean. Remove the brownies from the oven and allow them to cool completely before cutting into squares.
This article was originally published in the February 2022 issue of 225 magazine.