Fudgy Chocolate Brownies

Who doesn’t love a gooey, fudgy, chocolate brownie? Brownies are the quintessential chocolate dessert. Serve them with ice cream, with a dollop of whip cream, or all by themself; however you enjoy a brownie, you know you’re in for a decadent piece of chocolate paradise.

I sometimes like to jazz up this basic brownie recipe by adding walnuts or pecans, but even this simple recipe still yields a fantastically fudgy brownie that is excellent without any add ins. Rich, dense, delectable, and almost as simple as a box mix, these brownies will be a recipe you return to time and time again.

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup cocoa powder (unsweetened)
• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 ¼ cup sugar
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ cup flour
• 2 eggs

1. Preheat oven 375℉. Grease a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray and set aside. Use a 9x9 dish for thicker brownies.
2. Use a double boiler or heat 2 inches of water in a medium saucepan over medium heat. In a large bowl that fits on top of the saucepan, combine the butter, cocoa powder, sugar, and salt. Place the bowl on top of the heated saucepan, stir the contents until the butter is melted.
3. Remove the bowl from the pot and set aside, allowing it to cool for 3 minutes.
4. Stir in the vanilla to the butter/sugar mixture, then add the eggs one at a time, stirring after each addition.
5. Stir in the flour, beat with a spoon vigorously after the flour is fully incorporated for 1-2 minutes.
6. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan and bake for 25-30 minutes. To ensure moist brownies, a toothpick inserted into the center of the brownies will come out almost clean when done.