Tag: dessert recipes

Best Fudgy Brownies – Make Chocolate Bliss Now!

Crackly top, rich, fudgy middle, studded with melty chunks of chocolate… Start your chocolate-happy moment right now!

I have strong opinions about brownies. I like mine gooey, preferably with no edges (I know, so controversial, right out of the gate!), and chocolate chips are always a good thing. If you’re looking for cakey or drier brownies, this is not your recipe.

The ‘secret sauce’ is an additional tablespoon of oil as well as a smidge more sugar. And to get that lovely crackly top, be sure to beat the liquid-egg mixture well before adding the dry ingredients.

INGREDIENTS
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, melted (1 stick)
  • 1 Tbsp cooking oil (vegetable, olive or coconut are fine)
  • 1 ⅛ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½-¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, if desired
INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F/ 180 degrees C.
  2. Lightly grease an 8×8” square baking pan with cooking spray, set aside. 
  3. In medium saucepan melt butter. Remove from heat, combine with oil and sugar, whisk well for about a minute. Add eggs and vanilla, beat for another minute.
  4. Add flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Gently mix until just combined (do not overmix at this point).
  5. Pour/scrape batter into prepared pan, smoothing the top evenly. Sprinkle over the chocolate chips at this point, if desired.
  6. Bake for 25-28 minutes. Brownies will NOT test done, don’t even bother. If the top is set, remove from oven and let rest till room temperature. Cutting before it cools will not work well.

Eat with a sigh of blissful contentment, chocolate craving appeased for today. 

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Cinnamon-Swirl Apple Fritter Bread

(Adapted from: Home is Where the Boat Is)

Makes 1 9×5″ loaf

Ingredients:

  • 1/3 cup light brown sugar
  • 3 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp ground cloves
  • 2 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled and chopped
  • 2/3 cup sugar plus 2 Tbsp
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
  • 2 large eggs, room temp
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup milk

Glaze:

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • pinch salt
  • 2-3 Tbsp milk

Directions:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Grease and lightly flour 9×5″ loaf pan.
  • In small bowl, mix brown sugar and 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon, all the nutmeg, and all the cloves. Set aside.
  • In another bowl, toss chopped apples with 2 Tbsp granulated sugar and 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon, set aside.
  • In medium/large bowl, beat butter and remaining 2/3 cup granulated sugar together with mixer until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes. (I usually get impatient around 2, but can make it to 3.5 if I’m trying hard. Props to you if you make it to 5!  Write and tell me, I’ll send you some applause and a gold star.)
  • With mixer on medium, add the eggs one at a time (I often forget and dump them both in together, don’t be like me); add vanilla extract.
  • In yet another bowl (I know. What are we up to now, four different bowls?) whisk flour, baking powder and salt together.
  • Add flour mixture to creamed butter mixture, beat till blended. Mix 1/2 cup milk into batter till smooth.
  • Pour half the batter into prepared loaf pan; top with half the chopped apple mixture.
  • Sprinkle half the brown sugar/cinnamon mixture on top of the apples.
  • Pour/spread remaining batter over apple layer, top with remaining chopped apples, then remaining brown sugar mixture.
  • Gently pat apples into batter.  Using a table knife or slim spatula, swirl brown sugar mixture through apples (don’t get too carried away… a moderate, restrained swirlage goes a long way here).
  • Bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, approximately 60-70 mins.  (Cover with foil during last 10 minutes of baking time to prevent overbrowning if needed.)
  • Let loaf rest in pan for 15 minutes, then remove gently and let cool completely on wire rack.
  • Make glaze: Mix powdered sugar, pinch salt, and 2-3 Tbsp milk to desired consistency, stir till smooth. Drizzle bread with glaze.