mocha walnut brownies

Sunday, April 22, 2012 |
Last time Cecelia Bedelia’s adventures in the kitchen were of the brownie variety. You may recall that I found the perfect recipe. WELL. Since that time I have been sent MANY recipes for brownies by friends hoping to convert me to their chocolate-y ways. And I must say, this one is deeeee-licious (and VERY rich). I give you:


Mocha Walnut Brownies (from Susan Sugarman's Real Simple recipe)


INGREDIENTS


nonstick vegetable oil spray

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter

4 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped

1 tablespoon instant espresso powder (I used two single-serving packets of Starbucks Via instant coffee – and it was just the right amount of coffee flavor)

2 large eggs

1 cup sugar

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips



DIRECTIONS


Heat oven to 350° F. Spray an 8-inch square baking pan with the nonstick spray. Line the pan with a piece of parchment, leaving an overhang on two sides; spray the parchment with the nonstick spray.


In a small saucepan, melt the butter and chopped chocolate with the espresso powder, stirring occasionally; remove from heat.


With an electric mixer, beat the eggs and sugar on medium-high until light and fluffy. Reduce speed to low and mix in the melted chocolate mixture, then the flour and salt just until incorporated. Fold in the walnuts and chocolate chips.



Spread the batter in the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 30 minutes (in my oven, it took about 45 minutes). Cool completely in the pan. Holding both sides of the paper overhang, lift the cake out of the pan, transfer to a cutting board, and cut into 16 squares.



This recipe is fairly simple, though you do have lots of dirty pans/bowls/implements and so on at the finish. That said, it does live up to billing and produce a very smooth, rich chocolate dessert. And the trick with the parchment paper made the brownies simple to cut and divide – I’ll have to use that with other recipes!


Recommended for: a decadent twist on the fudge walnut brownie, the perfect accompaniment to a steak dinner, and anyone who scoffs at the idea of a chocolate overload.


Interested in other food-related posts? Check out Beth Fish Reads' Weekend Cooking.

8 comments:

Beth F said...

OH wow. these do sound wonderful with the espresso powder. I will have to try these this summer for a picnic.

Ryan said...

I just finished eating dinner, thought I was full, then saw this post and I'm hungry again.

A Buckeye Girl Reads said...

It's been much too long since I've been here..but oh, those brownies look divine. I must make them!!!!

Tales of Whimsy said...

Wow. Yum!

Liviania said...

Sounds good. I'll have to try to make some with butterscotch rather than walnuts. (My usual substitution - I don't like nuts.)

Melanie said...

These look amazing. It's been months since I had a brownie, because I ate a pan by myself the last time, lol.

CarlyB said...

Goddd, your recipes always make me SO hungry. Me and my boyfriend having a baking weekend planned this weekend so I'll definitely be making these! Ooh, would you mind if I blogged about it? Obviously I'd link back to you x

Cecelia said...

Liviania: Let me know how the butterscotch substitution goes! I imagine it will be delicious.

CarlyB: Go right ahead and blog! I share recipes on my blog partly so that when I'm at a party and someone says 'Oh my God, you have to give me that recipe!' I can just give them my card and say 'It's all online!'

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