Brownies

I don't know if you noticed, but I am sorta doing a 'series' on Valentines Day desserts.  We had breakfast.  We had lunch.  And now, its snack time.

Did you know that I love brownies?  My mom taught me her recipe when I was eight years old.  Its wonderful.  I have always been proud of that very special brownie recipe that was handed down through the generations.

Come to find out its Betty Crockers.

Ha!  Love it.

I started out with this design, but it seemed a bit...cupcakeish... so I changed things up.

 

I actually used a heart cookie cutter and cut out the center to fill it with frosting.

Turns out those little brownie bites are perfect for tiny fingers...

 

Then I tried to class the brownies up a bit... right here is where you laugh my idea that Welches Sparkling Cider is classy.

 

They ended up being kinda cute.

BUT!  They are for a snack... not for the (THE) dessert of the night. 

So I wrapped them up in parchment paper and put them in a special box and tied the most masculine knot I could manage... because they would be for my sweet hubby of course.

But I can imagine that if you wanted to do this for a child, a fun, colorful, age appropriate ribbon would be the only change needed.

Now.  If you wanted to go super easy just get a .99 box of brownie mix, and can of frosting, and spend less then an hour total, you could make someone in your life feel pretty darn special.

I personally think that is just as wonderful and just as thoughtful as baking them from scratch.    Seeing as I have such total over achievers for readers, I knew you would appreciate a really good brownie recipe.

***

Please feel free to share...do you have a favorite brownie recipe?

***

Here is moms Bettys Recipe.  

 

 

• 2/3 cup butter or margarine
• 5 ounces unsweetened baking chocolate, chopped into pieces
• 1 3/4 cups sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup all-purpose flour

 

1. Position one of your oven racks in the middle of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350F degrees. Grease a 9-inch square baking pan with nonstick cooking spray or shortening.
2. In a small saucepan, melt the butter and chocolate over low heat, stirring frequently. Remove from the heat and cool slightly, about 5 minutes.
3. In a large bowl beat the sugar, vanilla, and egg with an electric mixer on high speed for 5 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula if necessary to make sure everything is well blended.
4. Beat in the chocolate mixture with the mixer on low speed, scraping the bowl occasionally as necessary.
5. Add the flour and beat on low speed just until blended.
6. Spread batter into the prepared pan.
7. Bake 40 to 45 minutes or just until the brownies begin to pull away from the sides of the pan and center is set.
8. Remove from the oven and place the pan on a wire rack to cool completely, about 2 hours.

***

I had leftover frosting in my fridge, so just used that.  Here is the original recipe.

Magnolia's Vanilla Buttercream

Makes enough for one 2-layer 9-inch cake or 2 dozen cupcakes*

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

• 6 to 8 cups confectioners’ sugar

• 1/2 cup milk

• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• 1 teaspoon almond extract (this is my modification, not Magnolia's original recipe)

Place the butter in a large mixing bowl. Add 4 cups of the sugar and then the milk and vanilla. On the medium speed of an electric mixer, beat until smooth and creamy, about 3-5 minutes.

 

Gradually add the remaining sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating well after each addition (about 2 minutes), until the icing is thick enough to be of good spreading consistency. You may not need to add all of the sugar.

Comments

[Jessica]

Can I be your valentine!?

[Diane {createdbydiane.blogspot.com}]

YUM! I love brownies :)

[Renee]

Chocolate...thats just what I need after the day I've had. Yummmmm.

[Londa]

Making these tomorrow for our college kids that come over for Bible Study every Tuesday. The love brownies...and I love frosting! Thanks!

[Tina Fisher]

they look yummy!

[Mireya]

Yum, I'll have to surprise my hubby with these :)

[Melissa in NC]

Too cute! I love the heart cut-outs.
Mark Bittman has a good Blonde Brownie recipe.

[Katie]

I love Brownies :) And the hearts filled with frosting make yours adorable! Ohhh and the tiny fingers...super cute! Dorie Greenspan has a delicious quintuple chocolate brownie recipe that I made and posted the recipe for a while back and they were a huge hit with everyone!

[Catie]

YUMMMMM
Betty can't hold a candle to your Mom :)
Love it
Cheers
Catie

[Melanie]

I "heart" the tiny heart cutouts!! So cute and like you said, perfect for little (and big) fingers!

[Barbara]

So adorable the way you hearted up your brownies! Perfect for Valentines Day.
Our favorite brownie recipe is a snap to make. I posted it a long time ago when I first started blogging- and was getting no comments. They are called Aunt Hat's Brownies. They are under cookies and bars if anyone's interested. We don't frost ours.

[oneshotbeyond]

all I can say is WOW!

[bridget {bake at 350}]

I love the ♥ cut-out filled with frosting! Yum-o!

My favorite brownie recipe is the one for Fudgy Brownies in the King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion. But, the Ghiradelli (sp?) from the box are pretty darn good, too!

[Jamie @ Six Bricks High]

Please don't laugh at me but I have never mad brownies from scratch. I have always used a mix. These all look so great...I love brownies!!!

[Carrie @ Half Baked Cake Blog]

This is beautiful Amanda! Anyone would be lucky to receive such a perfect treat!

[Dianne]

Oh wow! Those look AMAZING!! What a lovely gift idea!

[Alex]

As you probably know I LOVE brownies. I have an amzing fudgey brownies on my blog (http://raspberryquill.blogspot.com) They are absolutely fantastic. And I finally made royal icing!

[Londa]

I just made these brownies and they are DELICIOUS! Plus, they were a big hit and now I'm feeling super loved! One question--my brownies seemed a lot thicker than yours--did you use a regular square 9 in. pan? I'm going to link back to you for the recipe--hope that's ok! Now I've got to go lick out a bowl of frosting! :)

[Kristin Smith]

Brownies are Gabriel's all time favorite treat...but I have never tried from scratch. I am going to have to try this one out though! Thanks for sharing!!

Blessings, Kristin

[Michelle Andrews]

I think brownies are right up there as my favorite treat. I think I'll be making these next, and trying some of your great decorating suggestions.

Have you ever made the Outrageous Brownies by Ina Garten? They have been my "go to" recipe for brownies for the past couple of years. Sinful...absolutely sinful.

I'm going to recover from these past couple of days of baking, and then try your brownies. I can't wait.

[grace]

oh, i'd say that qualifies as a masculine knot. :)
great idea, amanda--any method of incorporating adorable hearts into food is a-ok by me. :)

[Sarah]

I just found your blog - your pictures are beautiful. I think I may copy this idea for Valentine's Day this year. My husband would be so impressed.

[gamene]

the packaging with the paper, box and ribbon is absolutely beautiful... very classy!

[Londa]

You are being linked to tomorrow! :) My husband found the one left-over brownie I had hidden...bummer! They were delicious!

[Adelas (della)]

When I make [boxed] brownies, I throw in 1/2 to 1 teaspoon each of cinnamon and vanilla (varies depending on my mood. I don't actually measure it.)

The extra flavors give the chocolate a kick.

And if we're talking about boxed brownie mix, I have to say the Betty Crocker *supreme* ones are my favorites.

[Mansi]

Please pass on that box to me! its mine!!:) I love adding Espresso and Kahlua to my brownies, just for the kick!:)

btw, This would be perfect for the Valentine special giveaway I'm hosting on my blog, if you'd be kind enough to participate!:)

http://www.funandfoodcafe.com/2010/02/valentine-super-bowl-recipe-carnival.html

[Bizu Philippines]

I love brownies and this is one is different it looks so delicious and the design was great i love to eat this,i will try doing this soon. :)

vee

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Those brownies look so cute and delicious I will definitely will try them the next time I bake.

[Jordans Sneakers]

Art originates from life, but higher than life!

[guanacaste costa rica]

Our students love the digital tools but don't necessarily know how to manipulate them or push them out of their social lives and into their school or work lives.

Very Delicious Recipes I would
like to note down all the recipes.
thanks a lot for sharing this post.

.......Alex

[via]

Great news topic

[via]

The retailers jack up the prices on all the items on the list, the public shops like crazy and no one really saves any money. I love brownies and this is one is different it looks so delicious and the design was great i love to eat this,i will try doing this soon. :)

[Regina Martelloni]

What size pan did you bake these brownies in? Gorgeous! In the middle of making now....just made my icing, but am not sure what size pan?

[Comprare Xenical]

these cakes seem delicous...

[Heather]

interesting! although I have no expert, but I want to know more and more, on your blog just interesting and useful information. Keep it up!

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Nice and useful blog post. I love baking, so, I note down all the recipes. I'll try this one of this days. thanks a lot for sharing this post.

[Maggy]

This looks heavenly!! I’ve got to make this!!