Brownie Hearts By Martha Stewart Recipes

PERFECT BROWNIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Butter a 7-by-11 1/2-by-2-inch baking pan. Line pan with parchment paper; set aside.
• Combine butter and chocolate in a heat-proof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, and melt. Remove from heat, and let stand until cool. Sift flour and baking powder together into a medium bowl; set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat eggs until thick and creamy, about 5 minutes. Gradually beat in sugar. Continue beating until mixture is thick and mousse-like and a trail is left on the surface when the whisk is lifted, about 3 minutes more. Gradually fold in the chocolate mixture, alternating with the dry ingredients. Fold in nuts.
• Pour batter into prepared pan, and bake until top is cracked and center is just firm to the touch, 40 to 45 minutes. (The brownies should not have a cakelike consistency). Remove from oven, and let cool in pan.
• Cut into squares in the pan before turning out onto a board.

BROWNIE HEART CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. Coat an 8-inch square cake pan with cooking spray, line bottom with parchment, then spray parchment.
• Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Place butter and chocolate in a heatproof mixer bowl set over a pot of simmering water, stirring until chocolate melts.
• Attach bowl to mixer, add sugar, and whisk on medium-high speed until smooth, about 3 minutes. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, then vanilla. Reduce speed to low, and add flour mixture.
• Divide batter among muffin cups, filling each 2/3 full. Spread remaining batter in square pan. Bake until set but still soft, about 18 minutes. Let cool in tins and pan on wire racks.
• Frost cupcakes with buttercream. Cut out 24 hearts from brownie in pan using a 1 1/2-inch heart-shaped cutter. Top each cupcake with a heart.

FUDGY CHOCOLATE BROWNIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 13-by-18-by-1-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray and line with parchment paper; spray parchment with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
• Melt unsweetened chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl set over (but not touching) simmering water; remove from heat and let cool. In a medium bowl, mix together flour and chocolate chips; set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat eggs, sugar, vanilla, and salt on high until ribbons form, 7 to 9 minutes. With the mixer on low, slowly add melted chocolate. Fold in flour mixture.
• Pour batter into prepared pan, spreading evenly. Bake until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 25 to 28 minutes, rotating pan halfway through baking. Brownies may seem underbaked, but will continue to cook as they cool.
• Transfer brownies to a wire rack to cool. Transfer cooled brownies to refrigerator; chill at least 2 hours. Invert chilled brownies to remove from pan and peel off parchment paper. Reinvert brownies and trim edges. Cut as desired.

BROWNIE HEARTS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Line 8-inch square pan with foil, allowing some to hang over edges of pan. Grease bottom and sides of foil with shortening or cooking spray. Make brownie batter as directed on box. Spread in pan.
• Bake 35 to 38 minutes or until toothpick inserted 2 inches from side of pan comes out almost clean. Cool completely on cooling rack, about 1 1/2 hours. Freeze in pan 15 minutes.
• Using foil to lift, remove brownies from pan, and peel foil away. With deep 2 1/2-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut 7 brownies. Save leftover pieces for snacking.
• Arrange brownies on serving plate. With small strainer, sprinkle brownies and plate with cocoa.

DOUBLE-CHOCOLATE BROWNIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a buttered 8-inch square baking pan with foil or parchment paper, allowing 2 inches to hang over sides. Butter lining (excluding overhang); set pan aside.
• Put butter, chocolate, and cocoa in a heatproof medium bowl set over a pan of simmering water; stir until butter and chocolate are melted. Let cool slightly.
• Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl; set aside.
• Put sugar, eggs, and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, and beat on medium speed until pale, about 4 minutes. Add chocolate mixture; beat until combined. Add flour mixture; beat, scraping down sides of bowl, until well incorporated.
• Pour batter into prepared pan; smooth top with a rubber spatula. Bake until a cake tester inserted into brownies (avoid center and edges) comes out with a few crumbs but is not wet, about 35 minutes. Let cool slightly in pan, about 15 minutes. Lift out brownies; let cool completely on a wire rack before cutting into squares.

FUDGY DOUBLE-CHOCOLATE BROWNIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a 9-inch square baking pan and line with parchment, leaving a 2-inch overhang on two sides; butter parchment.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, and salt. In a large heatproof bowl set over (but not in) a pot of simmering water, combine 1 1/2 cups chocolate (6 ounces) and butter; heat, stirring, until melted. Remove from heat. Immediately add sugar and whisk 10 seconds.
• Add eggs, one at a time, then vanilla; whisk vigorously until glossy and smooth, 45 to 60 seconds. Using a rubber spatula, stir in flour mixture until just combined, then fold in remaining 1/2 cup chocolate (2 ounces). Transfer batter to prepared pan, smoothing top with spatula.
• Bake until top is shiny and crackly and a tester comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack and let cool 20 minutes. Using parchment overhang, lift brownies from pan. Let cool completely on rack before cutting into squares. Store in an airtight container at room temperature up to 2 days.

CHEWY BROWNIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-inch square baking pan. Line with parchment, leaving a 2-inch overhang on two sides; butter parchment.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. In a heatproof bowl set over a pot of simmering water, melt chocolate and butter with oil. Remove from heat. Add both sugars and whisk 10 seconds. Add eggs and whisk vigorously until glossy and smooth,45 seconds. Using a rubber spatula, stir in dry ingredients. Pour batter evenly into prepared pan, smoothing top with spatula.
• Bake until set and a tester inserted in center comes out with moist crumbs, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool in pan on a wire rack 20 minutes, then remove using parchment; let cool completely on rack before cutting into squares. Brownies can be stored in an airtight container up to 2 days.

PUFF-PASTRY WAFFLE HEARTS (PUFFLES)

Steps:

• Preheat a nonstick waffle iron according to manufacturer's instructions. Dust a clean work surface with flour and roll out pastry to flatten creases; cut in half crosswise.
• Dollop chocolate-hazelnut spread by the teaspoon onto one piece of dough, spaced 2 inches from edges of dough and 2 inches apart. Brush between dollops with water, then top with second piece of dough, pressing gently between dollops to seal.
• Center a 2 1/2-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter over dollops and stamp out shapes. Freeze 5 minutes. Cook in waffle iron until puffed and golden, 5 to 6 minutes. Serve with strawberries and syrup.

BROWNIE HEARTS BY MARTHA STEWART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• Butter a 9-by-13-inch cake pan.
• Cut a piece of waxed paper to fit the bottom, and press it onto buttered surface
• In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine butter, brown sugar, and chocolate.
• Microwave on high for 1 minute; stir. If the chocolate is not softened, continue to microwave at 10-second intervals, removing before completely melted.
• Beat the eggs and vanilla into the melted chocolate with a wooden spoon.
• Beat in the flour and salt.
• Pour into prepared pan, and smooth the top.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out almost clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool.
• Run a knife around the edge of the pan. Turn the brownie cake out onto a baking sheet, and flip over onto a work surface.
• Cut out the brownies with a 2 1/2-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter.
• Dust with cocoa if you like.
• Form the scraps into 1-inch balls, and roll them in the coating of your choice.

ULTIMATE BROWNIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Butter a 9-by-13-inch glass baking dish, and line dish with parchment paper. Butter and flour parchment. Set dish aside.
• Place unsweetened chocolate and butter in the upper pot of a double boiler; melt over barely simmering water, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, and set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine eggs, vanilla, and sugar; beat on high speed for 10 minutes. Reduce speed to low; add chocolate mixture, beating to combine. Add flour and salt gradually, beating just to combine. Fold in semisweet chocolate chunks.
• Pour batter into the prepared baking dish. Bake bars until edges just start to pull away from pan, but the center is still moist, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer dish to a wire rack to cool. Using a serrated knife, cut bars into 24 pieces. Store brownies in an airtight container for up to 1 week.