Brownies

I know what you're thinking.  Brownies?! Really?! A box mix is perfect.  Trust me, after you try these, box mixes will be a distant memory.  Yes - you will never again make a box mix batch of brownies ever again.  I swear.  These are quick and easy and unbelievably tasty.  I had the whole thing done from start to oven in under 5 minutes.  I mean the longest part was baking them.  So don't be thinking that making things from scratch is hard.  Brownies are always easy, and I mean really, who doesn't love a brownie?  And not just any brownie, a fudgie rich chocolate brownie. 

I wish I took a food porn shot of these once I cut
them up but forgot to
 

I love my new job.  The people I work with are amazing.  I feel really lucky to have gotten this job, and love that I'm helping people.  I can't say enough good things about it.  And they have quickly learned that I will be bringing in treats - a lot.  No complaints from anyone yet.  In fact, I've been getting peoples likes and dislikes treat wise.  And I have to admit - it makes me happy.  I have missed my Treat Tuesdays and Treat Thursdays, so to have such happy reactions to my baking at work makes me want to bake a lot again.  I just hope they don't get sick of it any time soon.  Which I don't think will happen soon.  When the brownies got low and there were just a couple left, people starting calling dibs on them. 

So - bake these bad boys.  You need to.  Have I given you any bad recipes yet?  No? - then make them the next time you want brownies. The smell that will come from your oven while baking will give you a hint of how great these will be. 

Brownies

makes 9-12 brownies

 

6 tbsp butter, cut into pieces

8 oz semisweet chocolate chips

3/4 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 large eggs, room temperature

1/4 cup all purpose flour

optional - 1 cup nuts, chocolate chips, mint chips, peanut butter chips - anything you wish to add

 

 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line the inside of a 9" pan with 2 lengths of foil or parchment paper, positioning the sheets perpendicular to each other with the excess hanging over the edges.  Lightly grease with butter or cooking spray. 
2. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter, then add the chocolate chips and stir over low heat until the chocolate is melted and smooth.  Remove pan from heat and stir in the sugar and vanilla until combined.  Beat in the eggs one at a time.  Add the flour and stir energetically for 1 full minute (set a timer and mix like crazy until it goes off - if you skip this step your brownies will turn out flat, dry and crumbly), until the batter loses its graininess, becomes smooth and glossy, and pulls away a bit from the sides of the saucepan.  If using, stir in mix ins. 
3. Scrape the batter into prepared pan and bake until the center feels almost set, rotating halfway through, about 30 minutes.  Don't over bake.
4. Let cool completely in the pan before lifting out.