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- Chocolate Fudge Brownies with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
When I received an email from my friend Heather at girlichef announcing a blogging party celebrating the release of Joy the Baker’s new cookbook I immediately responded “I’m in..I”m in! I have followed Joy’s blog for ages and have tried many of her wonderful recipes so the announcement of the release of Joy the Baker Cookbook – 100 Simple and Comforting Recipes is good news indeed. This post is part of the Joy the Baker Cook Book Spotlight and Cook Off sponsored by Hyperion and is hosted by girlichef.
This baking event will go for four weeks, the first three weeks participants will bake and post Joy’s recipes and the fourth week will be the book review. Our first week’s choices were Chocolate Fudge Brownies with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting or Flax Seed & Cracked Pepper Crackers and I (what else could I possibly do) chose the brownies. They were so good that I made a second batch and left it unfrosted so I can make brownie hot fudge sundaes for an upcoming family birthday dinner (we’re celebrating 3 birthdays in one day!!)
- CHOCOLATE FUDGE BROWNIES
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
- 3 ounces unsweetened chocolate
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips
- THE BEST CHOCOLATE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING
- ¾ cup (1-1/2 sticks) unsalted butter
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2-1/2 to 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- scant ½ cup heavy cream
- ⅓ cup Ovaltine
- BROWNIES;
- Place a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour an 8-inch square baking dish and set aside.
- In a medium bowl whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
- Bring about 2 inches of water to a boil in a medium saucepan. In a medium heatproof bowl add butter and unsweetened chocolate. Place the bowl over, but not touching, the simmering water and allow to melt. Stir to incorporate. Once melted, remove the bowl from the simmering pot. Whisk in brown sugar and granulated sugar. Whisk in eggs, yolk and vanilla.
- Add the flour mixture all at once to the chocolate mixture. Fold together with a spatula until well incorporated. Fold in the chocolate chips.
- Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Bake until a skewer inserted in the center of the bornies comes out clean. Remove from the oven and cool completely before frosting.
- CHOCOLATE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment cream together butter, cocoa powder and salt. Mixture will be very thick, but cream for about 3 minutes at medium speed.
- Turn off the mixer, scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the powdered sugar. Turn the mixer on low to incorporate 2-1/2 cups powdered sugar while adding the milk and vanilla. As the sugar incorporates, gradually increase the mixer speed to medium high. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Beat until smooth.
- In a 1-cup measure stir together cream and Ovaltine. Turn the mixer to medium and pour the cream in a slow and steady stream until the frosting reaches your desired consistency: smooth, creamy and spreadable. Add more powdered sugar to adjust consistency. Spread or pipe frosting onto cooled cakes or cupcakes (or brownies!).
The brownies are dense, chocolatey and rich and the buttercream frosting perfectly compliments the fudgy base. The only thing I might do differently next time is add a few toasted chopped walnuts to the brownie batter. The chocolate hearts on top of the squares are special Valentine’s Day Junior Mints. We gobbled up all the frosted squares immediately and topped the second batch of unfrosted brownies with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce. All that was topped off with a big spoonful of sliced strawberries left over from the strawberry whipped cream birthday cake that my son always asks for on his birthday. It was awesome!!!!!
this post is linked to Foodie Friday at Designs by Gollum. Thanks, Michael Lee.
love the heart toppings these look delicious.
If you get a chance tip toe tuesday blog hop open feel free to add this recipe.
Your brownies look amazing Cathy! Joy’s was one of the first blogs I always checked in on, very exciting to hear of her new book. Happy Valentine’s Day:@)
Your brownies look bakery perfect—that thick layer of frosting is pretty darn tantalizing…
Sue/the view from great island recently posted..Chocolate Fudge Brownies with Chocolate Buttercream: Joy the Baker Cookbook Spotlight and Cook-off!
Mmmmm! Your brownies look absolutely AMAZING! I love the chocolate heart adornments and the fat layer of frosting. Beautiful. So happy you’re a part of the spotlight
Heather @girlichef recently posted..Chocolate Fudge Brownies w/ Chocolate Buttercream Frosting {Joy the Baker Cookbook Spotlight & Cook-Off}
Those look amazing!!
Yummmmm! They look delicious and I also love the chocolate heart decoration. Nice touch!
Marilyn recently posted..Heart and Flowers – Part 2
Swoon! I saw Joy the Baker at the Foodbuzz Blogger Festival and found her quite approachable and charming. I’ve been following her blog, and really like her “humble” wit. Wow! These are some of the nicest brownies I have ever seen! Seriously. I have one of the weird looking brownie edge pans, and I’d bet my men would love these. The frosting looks amazing! So glad you shared this, Cathy. I have to consider buying her book now.
Foodiewife recently posted..S’Mores Rice Krispie Treats for the Secret Recipe Club
Cathy, what a perfect double sweetness for this special day. Happy Valentine’s Day to you & your loved ones. Hope you’re going to have the most romantic evening.
Cheers, Kristy
kristy recently posted..Cheapest Valentine Roses
Ooooo, do THOSE look good! Gorgeous photo with mouth watering results. I can almost taste them. I didn’t know the had a special Valentine’s Day Junior Mint??? Dang! Maybe I can go find some for 1/2 price today. LOL
Hugs & Thanks for the recipe,
Rett
Rettabug recently posted..Happy Valentines Day!!
Oh….and “Happy Birthday” to Everybody!!!
Rettabug recently posted..Happy Valentines Day!!
The brownies look very yummy and I bet they were enjoyed by all. I agree…I would add nuts to the brownies as well. I know the birthday celebrations must have been fun and here is to many more.
Karen (Back Road Journal) recently posted..Hip and Happening Delray Beach
They look delicious..Just what my little boys love..Chocolate with chocolate on top:)
Monique recently posted..Les Madeleines de Ladurée Chez Nous~
Cathy-
I love your blog and thank you for the many great recipes you share with us.
I have a baking question to ask you. Whenever I make buttercream frosting it always has that bitter after taste of confectionary sugar. What am I doing wrong?
Looking forward to hearing from you,
Cindy
I’d pick the brownies too. They sound fabulous . So happy for Joy.
Those look fantastic.
Joy has a good blog. Good luck to her with her cookbook.
Ramona recently posted..Volunteer Asparagus
Wow, those brownies look incredible!!
It’s fun to see how everybody cuts, frosts, and decorates their brownies just a little bit differently. They sure do look yummy.
Karen recently posted..Spicy Ravioli Florentine
They look wonderful with that thick fluffy buttercream on top. Love Joy’s Blog – I can only imagine all of her recipes are this thoughtful and delish….those crackers actually sound pretty good (but I can’t blame you for picking the brownies.)
Becki’s Whole Life recently posted..Brownie Pudding
Success!! They look great and I love the hearty touch
Take care..
Gerry @Foodness Gracious recently posted..Chocolate Fudge Brownies with Buttercream Frosting, Cook Book Spotlight with Joy The Baker….
So romantic and SO delicious! Also love the sound of that book too…..Karen
Karen recently posted..Save the Children, The Pink Whisk Recipe Challenge & Maple Syrup Walnut Layer Cake with Fudge Frosting
I had to pin this recipe; it is similar to my brownie recipe but more chocolaty; I also add chocolate frosting to mine, but these are WOW! Love your chocolate hearts.
Rita
Chocolate on chocolate on chocolate! You can’t go wrong!
Virtually Homemade – Liz recently posted..5 Simple Ingredients for Perfect Mini Bagel Reuben Sliders
Chocolate on chocolate on chocolate, oh my! These look delicious, Cathy.
Susan recently posted..Chai-Spiced Love Knots
They look sinfull good, Cathy! I am on a diet and it is killing me..llol!
I always love to hear a blogger get a cookbook or book deal–I hope you’re next!
Pat recently posted..Walking Brooklyn — Pratt Institute
Oh yes, pass the milk! They look sinful!
Kathleen recently posted..Let the Good Times Roll!
These look amazing! The chocolate buttercream must put these over the top.
Raina recently posted..Valentine’s Day Cupcakes
Just when you think a brownie can’t get better, it does. Delicious!
Best,
Bonnie
Bonnie recently posted..Valentine Truffles for the Baker
I have been enjoying all the Joy the Baker posts…These brownies rock.
Velva
velva recently posted..Wordless Wednesday
And I thought I had seen all sorts of brownies – but these are decidedly different – and delicious.
ciaochowlinda recently posted..Conversation Heart Cheesecakes for Valentine’s Day
I ordered my copy of Joy’s book nearly 3 months ago. With recipes like these inside, I can wait to get it!
Awesome indeed! I could eat a few squares at one sitting!
Jeannie recently posted..Kumquat Bundt Cake
Well, I’m salivating. As I so often do when I visit!! What a shame I’m on a diet …
Red Nomad OZ recently posted..Weird Stuff #7 – Three Aussie Hearts
I’m not much of a dessert eater, but I do love my chocolate. These are gorgeous Cathy. Love the little heart on top. Perfect for Valentine’s day.
Sam
Sam @ My Carolina Kitchen recently posted..Crème Brulee – an amazingly elegant French dessert
Those brownies look beautiful Cathy.
Lea Ann recently posted..Rocky Mountain Steak Salad
It’s a week for chocolate, no mistake! Love the idea from Heather and it will be fun to follow along. Great first choice, Cathy! Looks as though there may be more frosting than brownie.
That suits me to a T!
Barbara recently posted..John Scharffenberger’s Silky Chocolate Pudding
Blush! I do love a good frosting and wanted to use every speck of it. The brownies are very dense so the amount of frosting seemed appropriate. And guess what…I didn’t get a single complaint. This recipe is a keeper for sure!
Cathy recently posted..Chocolate Fudge Brownies with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting from a new cookbook by Joy the Baker
holy. cow. those look incredible! i could go for a big plate right now, and it’s not even lunchtime!
teresa recently posted..Spicy Chicken-Spinach Lettuce Wraps
Those look heavenly! Perfect for Valentine’s Day!
Chris and Amy recently posted..Flourless Chocolate Walnut Torte with Pinot-Noir-Laced Strawberries
Oh my those look delectable!
magicofspice recently posted..A Chat with Pretty Paris and a Custom Vintage Flatware Giveaway
Great touch adding the chocolate hearts. My feeling is there can never be too much chocolate in one place.
Michelle recently posted..Getcha Gras On with King (Cup) Cake
be still my heart—that thick layer of icing makes me want to bust down your door and steal a few squares…knives or no knives
happy to be baking along with you…looking forward to next week’s task
christy
christy recently posted..flax seed and cracked pepper crackers {joy the baker}
Brownies make my chocoholic heart beat faster! I love the looks of these, so bookmarked of course.
Oh my goodness, do these ever look fabulous!! I’ve never seen the heart-shaped Junior Mints, but I’ll be looking for them next year.
Kitty recently posted..Pecan Tassies (or Lemon )
Joy the Baker is EVERYWHERE! I love the fudgy hearts on yours. That is a great photo!
Eliot recently posted..Valentine’s Day Cherry-Raspberry Crisp
I want one! Or two! I love frosted brownies. LOVE!
Carol @There’s Always Thyme to Cook recently posted..What to do with leftover roast chicken?
Your brownies look like sheer perfection! I love the way you garnished them with the hearts!
So glad to be sharing the cookbook challenge and spotlight experience with you. Looking forward to see what you pick for week 3!
Best,
Jenn/Rook No. 17
Jenn Erickson/Rook No. 17 recently posted..Fudgy Chocolate Chunk Brownies with Malted Chocolate FrostingJoy the Baker Cookbook Spotlight & Cook-Off
These brownies are sooo dang good! And I love your chocolate heart addition. Adorable!
Danielle recently posted..Chocolate Fudge Brownies with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
I love how you garnished your brownies with the little hearts–so cute. These brownies were truly delicious and decadent. I loved the frosting. 😉
Deb in Hawaii recently posted..Greek-Inspired Potato-Leek Soup with Lemon and Dill for Food ‘N Flix: My Big Fat Greek Wedding and Souper (Soup, Salad & Sammie) Sundays
Frosting to brownie ratio is perfect on these delectable treats! I heart Joy the Baker, and can’t wait to get her cookbook.
Betty @ scrambled henfruit recently posted..Paula’s Meatless (but you’d never know it) Chili
The heart shaped candies on your brownies look so cute! I also love that you put a good amount of frosting on your brownies. I really like to pack the frosting on:) They look terrific!
Kim recently posted..Pomegranate Sorbet