Tuesday, February 05, 2013

Chocolate Week: Cosmic Brownies


I meant to blog this recipe back in September, then I decided to hold onto it for a guest post. But ultimately that fell through the cracks and I decided it'd be perfect to debut on Chocolate Week. It's a chocolate brownie with chocolate ganache and topped with chocolate coated chocolate candies. Did I mention there's chocolate?

I would also like to mention that I froze a bunch in little snack baggies and pulled them out of the fridge for a quick lunchbox dessert for my Kindergartener. They defrost by the time it's lunch! :) They are also just like the real thing. You get a whole batch of them for a fraction of the cost. If you bake a lot, I'm sure you have most of these ingredients on hand.

Cosmic Brownies - a childhood favorite made at home #copycat #chocolate


(Print)
What you need:
Brownies:
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2/3 cup brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup butter, melted
  • 2 Tbsp. water
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tsp. vanilla
  • 1 1/2 tsp. espresso powder (optional - I couldn't find it, so used instant cappuccino)
  • 1 1/3 cups flour
  • 3/4 cup unsweetened dark cocoa powder
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
Ganache:
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 7 oz. bittersweet chocolate, chopped
  • Pinch of salt
Topping:
  • Mini M&Ms or mini rainbow chips (if you can find them)
Directions:

Whisk together sugars, butter, and water. Add eggs, vanilla, and espresso powder.
In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, cocoa, and salt.
Stir dry ingredients into wet ingredients - mix well.
Spread brownie batter into a greased, foil-lined 9x13" pan. 
Bake at 350* for 18 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

While the brownies are baking, bring heavy cream to a low simmer. Watch carefully so it doesn't boil. Just let it bubble a teeny bit. Place bittersweet chocolate in a small bowl and pour heated heavy cream over the top. Top with salt and let sit for a few minutes.Using a rubber spatula, gently mix the chocolate mixture until the chocolate is melted completely and there are no lumps. Gentle mixing will help to prevent air bubbles.When the brownies are pretty much cooled down, top with ganache and spread evenly. Then sprinkle with M&Ms. 
 
Cool in fridge to set. Lift brownies out by the foil and cut into little rectangles.


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2 comments :

Rebecca @ Herons Crafts said...

Wow these look amazingly chocolatey - just how I like my Brownies! And great that they can be frozen too (stops me eating them all at once!) Thanks for sharing!

Erin Branscom said...

These are great! I love that it is homemade and without the chemicals! :) Erin