The Just-Right Brownies

    Well, fall is blowing in with the same 95 degree humidity we've been enduring all summer, making for a slightly disappointing first day of autumn. However, this calendar date does hint at what's to come, namely, scarves and hot cocoa and chilly friday night football games and big bowls of chili with loads of cheddar and fritos and crisp morning walks at Radnor Lake and camping trips and Thanksgiving gatherings and carnivals and pumpkin carving and apple picking and, oh! is there anything better than fall??? I am so excited. And, so, I determined that this day must be celebrated, regardless of the heat index. That said, I now have a hearty arrangement of happy fall flowers on my kitchen table, along with a list of recipes I'm dying to make as the weather cools...

      Now, so far I've been consciously choosing recipes to post that are bit varied and not all sweet, which is no easy thing for me as most of the cooking and eating that goes on in my little pink kitchen involves sinful amounts of sugar, chocolate, and butter. That said, the time has come to share something good and dark chocolatey, just the way I like it. Oh, and with a hint of pumpkin to ring in the season. 

     

      

    **10/24/10: In the case that I've not done justice to these brownies in my previous writing, I will continue their accolades here. I am, admittedly, a bit of a brownie snob. I don't like boxed mixes. I'm a dark chocolate fan (to say the least) and am generally disappointed by the lack of good, rich chocolate flavor your boxed mix offers. That said, I've tried several different recipes in effort to produce a chocolatey-enough brownie. One fine day, I stumbled across this one. I am in love. This recipe produces an oo-ey, rich, double dark chocolatey dream of a brownie. Now, as far as these Pumpkin Cream Cheese brownies go...they are a great seasonal option, for sure, but for the remainder of the year, this brownie in its plain form is the best you'll find. I'll list the two brownie recipes below: the Pumpkin Cream Cheese, and my Just-Right Brownie (the pumpkin one is the same, just with a pumpkin-swirled layer in it, to clarify).

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Brownies

yields a LOT. i cut them in small squares. so, maybe around 60 small ones?

ingredients:

brownie part-

2/3 cup butter, room temp.

1 1/4 cups sugar

1/4 cup water/brewed coffee (coffee enhances the chocolate flavor, but doesn't dominate)

4 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided (24 ounces)

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

4 eggs, room temp.

1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

pumpkin part-

4 ounces cream cheese, room temp.

1 cup canned pumpkin puree

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temp.

1/4 cup sugar

1 egg, room temp.

1 tablespoon flour

directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 F.

2. Grease 13x9 inch pan, line with parchment across bottom and up edges, and grease again.

3. In heavy saucepan, bring butter, sugar, water to boil, stirring constantly until butter is melted and sugar  dissolved (around 3 minutes).

4. Remove mixture from heat and stir in 2 cups of the chocolate chips until melted. Let cool for several minutes, then stir in vanilla.

5. In large bowl, whisk eggs and gradually add in the chocolate mixture, beating with a wooden spoon until completely mixed.

6. In another bowl, mix together flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add this dry mix to the egg/chocolate mix, stirring until entirely combined (i just use the same wooden spoon. try not to over-mix at this point or the brownies won't be as dense and gooey.). Stir in remaining chocolate. Set aside.

7. Now for the pumpkin part: In a small bowl, beat cream cheese and 2 tablespoons butter (i use the electric mixer here) until light and fluffy.

8. Gradually beat in sugar and spices until well blended. Beat in egg. Mix in 1 tablespoon flour.

9. Now you're ready! Pour half the brownie batter into the prepared pan. Now carefully pour/spread the pumpkin mix across the top. Pour the second half of brownie mix on top. Take a knife and swirl the pumpkin layer so it's visible on top (the fun part).

10. Bake for 40-45 minutes, being careful not to overbake (you don't want a dry toothpick or gooey one...somewhere in between.).

11. Let cool for an hour before cutting.

     Okay, so I apologize for the 11 steps and sink full of dirty dishes :/...but these are so yummy. The simple brownies (minus pumpkin) alone* are absolutely to die for and allow for endless adaptations: Like nuts? Add some chopped ones to the mix (a cup or so, maybe) before pouring it into the pan. Or, instead of the pumpkin layer in the middle, use chopped up Reese's Cups or Andes Mints or Heath or Symphony Bars. I mean, you almost can't go wrong. YUM. Here's the recipe for the basic brownies:

The Just-Right Brownies

yields about 60 smaller brownies. or maybe 30 bigger ones. well, a pan-full.

ingredients:

2/3 cup butter, room temp.

1 1/4 cups sugar

1/4 cup water/brewed coffee (coffee enhances the chocolate flavor, but doesn't dominate)

4 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided (24 ounces)

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

4 eggs, room temp.

1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 F.

2. Grease 13x9 inch pan.

3. In heavy saucepan, bring butter, sugar, water to boil, stirring constantly until butter is melted and sugar  dissolved (around 3 minutes).

4. Remove mixture from heat and stir in 2 cups of the chocolate chips until melted. Let cool for several minutes, then stir in vanilla.

5. In large bowl, whisk eggs and gradually add in the chocolate mixture, beating with a wooden spoon until completely mixed.

6. In another bowl, mix together flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add this dry mix to the egg/chocolate mix, stirring until combined (i just use the same wooden spoon. try not to over-mix at this point or the brownies won't be as dense and gooey.). Stir in remaining chocolate. 

7. Pour mix into prepared pan and bake for 35 minutes (don't overbake! gooey is always better anyway...).