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.

Matt’s Crazy Brownies

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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

1. Over the double boiler, melt the chocolate and butter.
2. I do not have a fancy double boiler. I put a metal bowl over a sauce pan with simmering water underneath. DIY double boiler.
3. Silky and smooth. It is only going to get better.
4. Add the sugar, salt and vanilla. Use a wooden spoon and mix it together.
5. Add the eggs one at a time. Make sure the first egg is completely incorporated before you add the second.
6. Mix in the flour.
7. Stir for one minute. The mixture will be ready when it starts to pull from the sides of the bowl.
8. Stir in the chopped pecans.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. Cut into squares and enjoy.

by bakedbree

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