I have to admit, brownies are not my thing. If I am going to eat something that may or may not end up on my thighs, I am very selective about what it is. Normally, I can pass by a plate of brownies and keep going. This is not the case with these babies. These are the most delicious, chocolatey, concoction I have ever put in my mouth. The texture of these brownies are what brownie dreams are made of. The method is certainly strange, but believe me, whatever the ice bath does to these brownies is nothing short of brilliant.
A few weeks ago, my son’s former Kindergarten teacher asked me to help her out with her Secret Santa treats. I was happy to help her out, (it did not hurt that we love the person that was going to be receiving these treats), and I opened my Google Reader and there was this recipe at mattbites.com staring at me. I needed something quick and easy and ready to deliver in less than 2 hours and this recipe fit the bill. I had everything on hand, made them, baked them, cooled them, and packaged them with time to spare.
Do yourself a favor. Do not make these brownies. You will make them over and over again. How do I know? Don’t ask. Don’t ask my thighs either.
1 stick of butter
4 ounces unsweetened or bittersweet chocolate
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup flour
2/3 chopped nuts (I like pecans)
Over the double boiler, melt the chocolate and butter.
I do not have a fancy double boiler. I put a metal bowl over a sauce pan with simmering water underneath. DIY double boiler.
Silky and smooth. It is only going to get better.
Add the sugar, salt and vanilla. Use a wooden spoon and mix it together.
Add the eggs one at a time. Make sure the first egg is completely incorporated before you add the second.
Mix in the flour.
Stir for one minute. The mixture will be ready when it starts to pull from the sides of the bowl.
Stir in the chopped pecans.
This is really important – Use an 8 inch METAL baking pan. It has to be metal because you are going to put a hot pan into a pan of ice water. Anything other than metal could crack and break. Line the pan with parchment paper or tin foil.
Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. The brownies will be ready when they pull away from the sides of the pan.
Here is where it gets weird. Before the brownies are ready to come out of the oven, fill a pan larger than the 8 inch pan (I use a 9×13) with ice and cold water. Take the brownies from the oven and put them in this ice bath. Be careful not to splash. No one likes a wet brownie. Let them cool completely.
Cut into squares and enjoy. But seriously, don’t make these. They are crazy good.
Ingredients
- 1 stick of butter
- 4 ounces unsweetened or bittersweet chocolate
- 1 1/4 cups sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup flour
- 2/3 chopped nuts (I like pecans)
Instructions
- Over the double boiler, melt the chocolate and butter.
- I do not have a fancy double boiler. I put a metal bowl over a sauce pan with simmering water underneath. DIY double boiler.
- Silky and smooth. It is only going to get better.
- Add the sugar, salt and vanilla. Use a wooden spoon and mix it together.
- Add the eggs one at a time. Make sure the first egg is completely incorporated before you add the second.
- Mix in the flour.
- Stir for one minute. The mixture will be ready when it starts to pull from the sides of the bowl.
- Stir in the chopped pecans.
- This is really important – Use an 8 inch METAL baking pan. It has to be metal because you are going to put a hot pan into a pan of ice water. Anything other than metal could crack and break. Line the pan with parchment paper or tin foil.
- Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. The brownies will be ready when they pull away from the sides of the pan.
- Here is where it gets weird. Before the brownies are ready to come out of the oven, fill a pan larger than the 8 inch pan (I use a 9×13) with ice and cold water. Take the brownies from the oven and put them in this ice bath. Be careful not to splash. No one likes a wet brownie. Let them cool completely.
- Cut into squares and enjoy.
{ 66 comments… read them below or add one }
These brownies looks amazing, especially that crust on the top! I’m tempted to make these right away as well, I have everything on hand too
Just a guess, but I think the ice bath stops the cooking process quicker, so you end up with fudgier brownies.
Sheena recently posted..pistachio and walnut baklava
Something magical happens, whatever the reason, they become perfection.
We are intrigued – the ice bath?! And we’re brownie lovers – so you as a non brownie lover saying these are amazing is enough of a reason for us to make these…!
The Blue-Eyed Bakers recently posted..Our Best Blue-Eyed Recipes of 2010
you have been warned. they are that good.
I love and ooey gooey brownie…heck, I love any brownie.
Great job!
Amanda recently posted..New Years Eve Cupcakes Tutorial
thank you Amanda! I love your black and white cake.
That looks more than delicious. I need to get a metal pan. And print this recipe. And make this recipe. And eat it. Yummm.
Karin van D. recently posted..Looking Back
LOL… yes, you need to do all of those things.
they look great! what chocolate did you use?
I guess I’m really lazy because when I originally saw his post on this, I read “ice bath” and thought, Meh. I really love a good brownie. But I didn’t know if all the must-dos were musts. Now that you’ve given this a rave review, I’m going to have to try it.
It is worth the extra step. I promise.
I am a HUGE brownie fan, so I will definitely need to make these soon!! YUMM I wish I had one right now…
Marissa recently posted..Banana Smoothie Win!
Wow, those look amazing!
they are.
I’ve never seen brownies baked this way…it definitely looks like its worth a shot to try! I have never had a pan of brownies turn out how I want them….I always end up messing them up somehow. Hopefully I don’t mess this one up too
Taylor recently posted..espresso shortbread cookies
these are so good, I hope that these are the ones for you.
My husband might just die when I make these. They look amazing! I love that you use a metal bowl over boiling water. I use a glass Pyrex bowl over boiling water.
I hope that he likes them.
My husband (Matt!) loves brownies. Baking a batch reminds me of bake sales and growing up…Even though they’re not the most sophisticated dessert, I think we’ll never grow out of it!
They can be sophisticated and they are always delicious.
Mmmm each picture looks so delicious. I want to lick my computer screen
Kat recently posted..Cranberry Filled Eggnog Cupcakes
Just make sure that no one is watching…
Made these this afternoon. Wonderful, divine fudginess with the perfect amount of crunch on the outside! Thanks again for sharing!!!
so glad!
That ice bath step does sound interesting, but it looks like it must cause something wonderful to happen because those brownies look amazing. I’m sorry, but I guess I won’t be able to take your advice because after seeing these, I’ll have to try them.
Lisa recently posted..Blueberry Scones
Now I want to try the ice bath with other things… like a chocolate chip cookie bar.
looks so delicious…. I like brownie so much, now I’m going to try it myself.
Shailender @ Travel India recently posted..Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays from India Darshan
Please do!
I featured this today on Today’s Top 20!
Amanda
todaystoptwenty.blogspot.com
Amanda recently posted..Fridays Features!!
thanks Amanda!
These look delectable.
And you take a mean photo.
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lol… thank you Nicolette!
I was craving chocolate last night so i made these. One word Fabulous! They are definately chocolatey goodness!
good to hear!
I thought these were too sweet, I would definitely use unsweetened chocolate instead of semisweet next time, but otherwise they were pretty good! Thanks!
I actually recommend using unsweetened or bittersweet and that is what is listed in the ingredient list.
Dang you – just looking at those pictures adn I MUST go find chocolate NOW. They look so absolutely yummy!
Thank you fro sharing with the Decidedly Healthy or Horridly Decadent Blog Hop.
Maggie recently posted..Shrouded in Mist Sunday
thank you Maggie!
Thanks so much for the recipe I am trying to make it as we speak!
By the way I really enjoy all your recipes and your detailed instructions on how to make them!
Thank you again
Brenda
thank you so much Brenda!
What a fun new method to try. I may just have to go buy a 8×8 metal pan.
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it is worth a trip to Target.
Oh my heck – these look tasty! We love brownies!!!
Erin @ Making Memories recently posted..Tell Your Valentine They ROCK
I don’t and these are amazing!
These look great! I am always on the hunt for the perfect brownie recipe. These look right up my alley!
Stacia recently posted..Triple Chocolate Indulgence
I hope that you like these as much as I do.
I made these last night and they were gooey and chocolatey and yummy! I only had semi-sweet chocolate, so I cut back on the sugar by 1/4 cup and left out the nuts because I have a teenager that doesn’t like them. They turned out brownie-licious! Thanks for sharing!
great Jennifer!
How big is that stick of butter? From the photo, it looks a lot smaller than the sticks of butters I get from my grocery store.
Sticks of butter are standard in size, they are all 8 Tablespoons.
So I’m not much of a brownie fan either and these look delicious! Think I’ll make today, but I only have tiny diced Walnuts or roasted peanuts. My hubby LOVES those peanuts, but not sure how a peanut would taste in a brownie… have you tried? Any ideas?
So I wasn’t patient enough to wait for a response. Oh My Yum! Really I may have already gone up a pant size. They are truly crazy good (and remember I don’t like brownies much) They were great with the Planters Roasted Peanuts– especially because i used semisweet chocolate (all I had). I like sweet though. Yum Yum Yum going back for just one more small taste
I net peanuts were great in these. I will have to try that.
Man, they do look awesome- I tried and somehow failed to make these. I waited until they started to pull away from the pan, but I guess I should have waited longer because mine weren’t done. Hopefully the 2nd time will be the charm…
oh no!
I’m making these right now, they just went in the oven. I have to say though, I followed the directions perfectly but my batter seemed much thicker than yours. It didn’t pour into the pan like your image, I had to scoop and spread. I’m crossing my fingers that they turn out ok! Nothing worse than putting all that effort into something and then finding out it’s ruined : /
I wonder why?
I made these brownies yesterday, I didn’t add the nuts, but did add some left over easter chocolate and they were FABULOUS! Thank you for the recipe!
these are divine! Easy and rich and chocolatey. I am glad that you liked them too.
AMAZING!!!! My kids are CrAzY about Brownies, made these, and WOWsie wowZERS!!! Thanks for an great brownie update!!!
so glad Marti! They are called craxy for good reason.
I have made a different brownie recipe every time in the hopes that I will come across a winner. This is the winner! I promise I don’t say that lightly because I swear we have had at least 100 not quite right brownies on the quest
Thank you, thank you and thank you!
wow! What a compliment Amy! I am glad that you found your perfect brownie.
I found this link on pinterest; these brownies look amazing!
Will have to give them a try this weekend
I found this link on pinterest; these brownies look amazing!
I can’t wait to give them a try on the weekend
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I hope that you love them as much I do.
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