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, it’s snack time.
Did you know that I love brownies? My mom taught me her recipe when I was eight years old. It’s wonderful. I have always been proud of that very special brownie recipe that was handed down through the generations.
Valentineโs Brownies
Ingredients
- 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
Instructions
- 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.
- In a small saucepan, melt the butter and chocolate over low heat, stirring frequently. Remove from the heat and cool slightly, about 5 minutes.
- 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.
- Beat in the chocolate mixture with the mixer on low speed, scraping the bowl occasionally as necessary.
- Add the flour and beat on low speed just until blended.
- Spread batter into the prepared pan.
- Bake 40 to 45 minutes or just until the brownies begin to pull away from the sides of the pan and center is set.
- Remove from the oven and place the pan on a wire rack to cool completely, about 2 hours.
Did you make this recipe?
Thank you for making my recipe! You took pictures, right? Well go ahead and post them on Instagram! Be sure to mention me @iambaker and use the hashtag #YouAreBaker.
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.
Based on Bettys Recipe.
I had leftover frosting in my fridge, so just used that. Here is the original recipe.
Makes enough for one 2-layer 9-inch cake or 2 dozen cupcakes*
Vanilla Almond Buttercream
Ingredients
- 1 cup 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
- 6 to 8 cups confectionersฤ sugar
- 1/2 cup milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
Instructions
- 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.
Did you make this recipe?
Thank you for making my recipe! You took pictures, right? Well go ahead and post them on Instagram! Be sure to mention me @iambaker and use the hashtag #YouAreBaker.
oh, i’d say that qualifies as a masculine knot. ๐
great idea, amanda–any method of incorporating adorable hearts into food is a-ok by me. ๐
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.
the packaging with the paper, box and ribbon is absolutely beautiful… very classy!
You are being linked to tomorrow! ๐ My husband found the one left-over brownie I had hidden…bummer! They were delicious!
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.
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
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. ๐
vee
Those brownies look so cute and delicious I will definitely will try them the next time I bake.
Art originates from life, but higher than life!
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