Rich Fudgy Cocoa Brownies Recipes

THE BEST COCOA FUDGE BROWNIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F) (175 degreed C). Line an 9x9-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Spray lightly with non-stick baking spray and set aside.
• In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, cocoa powder, and espresso powder. Set aside until needed.
• In a medium saucepan, combine the butter, oil, and 1/2 cup of the sugar. Heat over medium heat, stirring frequently, until butter is completely melted. Remove from heat.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the eggs and remaining sugar. Whisk until well combined, about 30 seconds.
• Slowly, pour the warm butter mixture into the egg mixture, adding it very gradually (a little bit at a time) and whisking constantly until completely combined.
• Add in the dry ingredients and chocolate chips and, using a rubber spatula, slowly stir until just combined. *Do not over mix! Stop staring when you see the last trace of dry ingredients. Over mixing will give you cakey brownies.
• Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
• Bake for 30 minutes, or until the edges are firm and the top is shiny and slightly cracked.
• Place pan on a cooling rack and cool completely before slicing.

RICH FUDGY COCOA BROWNIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°. Line a 9-inch-square metal baking pan with non-stick foil or spray with a non-stick spray like Baker's Joy. Put the butter in a microwave safe bowl, and microwave gently until melted. Whisk or stir in the sugar, followed by all four of the eggs and the vanilla. Stir in the flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt. Stir until the batter is smooth, about a minute Spread the batter into the prepared baking pan, smoothing out the top to level it. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the brownies comes out with just a few moist crumbs, about 40 minutes. Let the brownies cool completely in the pan on a rack. Cut into 16 squares. Keep the brownies at room temperature, covered well. These also freeze well.

RICH, FUDGY COCOA BROWNIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Grease a 13x9 inch pan.
• Melt shortening, butter over low heat or in the microwave.
• Remove from heat and add cocoa, blending well with a wooden spoon.
• Add sugar and mix well.
• Add eggs one at a time, beat well, by hand, after each addition. (It is important to add the eggs individually and to mix them by hand. If you don't, the brownies do not turn out near as good.).
• Stir in vanilla, flour, and salt.
• DO NOT OVER BEAT!
• Fold in nuts.
• Bake 25-30 minutes.
• Cool completely before cutting.
• Extra Rich Variation: melt 4 oz. unsweetened baking chocolate with butter and shortening. Proceed as directed; reducing cocoa to 3/4 cups and increasing flour to 1 1/4 cup. These are sinfully good!

BEST FUDGY COCOA BROWNIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
• Lightly grease an 8-inch square baking pan with cooking oil spray. Line with parchment paper (or baking paper); set aside.
• Combine hot melted butter, oil and sugar together in a medium-sized bowl. Whisk well for about a minute. Add the eggs and vanilla; beat until lighter in colour (another minute).
• Sift in flour, cocoa powder and salt. Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until JUST combined (do NOT over beat as doing so well affect the texture of your brownies).
• Pour batter into prepared pan, smoothing the top out evenly. (OPTIONAL: Top with chocolate chunks or chocolate chips.)
• Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the centre of the brownies in the pan no longer jiggles and is just set to the touch (the brownies will keep baking in the hot pan out of the oven). If testing with a toothpick, the toothpick should come out dirty for fudge-textured brownies.
• Remove and allow to cool to room temperature before slicing into 16 brownies.

EASY FUDGY BROWNIES FROM SCRATCH (OUR FAVORITE)

Steps:

• Position an oven rack in the middle of the oven and heat to 325 degrees F. Line the bottom and sides of an 8-inch x 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil, leaving an overhang on opposite sides to help remove the baked brownies from the pan.
• Prepare a double-boiler by filling a medium saucepan with water about 2 inches deep. Heat the water until barely simmering. See the notes section below for tips on making these without a double-boiler and instead using a microwave or making them directly in a saucepan.
• Combine the butter, sugar, cocoa powder, and salt in a medium heat-safe bowl. Rest the bowl over the simmering water. If the bottom of the bowl touches the water, remove a little water from the saucepan.
• Stir the mixture occasionally until the butter has melted and the mixture is quite warm. Don't worry if it looks gritty; it will become smooth once you add the eggs and flour.
• Remove the bowl from the saucepan, and set aside for 5 minutes or until it is only warm, not hot.
• Stir in the vanilla.
• Add the eggs, one at a time, stirring vigorously after each one.
• When the batter looks thick and well blended, add the flour. Use a spoon to beat the flour into the batter until it is very thick and pulls away from the sides of the bowl. We use a wooden spoon or spatula and beat for 40 to 50 strokes (see video for reference).
• Stir in nuts if using.
• Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan.
• Bake the brownies until the edges look dry and the middle looks slightly underbaked; 20 to 30 minutes. You can test doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center. The brownies are finished baking if it comes out with a few moist crumbs attached.
• Cool completely before removing from the pan - this step is essential and helps the brownies set. Cut into 16 squares.

MOIST FUDGY COCOA BROWNIES

Steps:

• Set oven on 350.
• Coat 11 1/2 x 7 1/2 glass pan with margarine or butter (or slightly larger for thinner brownies*might have to adjust cooking time*).
• In a saucepan or glass bowl melt margarine.
• Mix in by hand eggs and vanilla, then flour, salt, cocoa and sugar till moistened.
• With mixer on low/med beat just till mixed.
• Don't overbeat.
• Fold in nuts and/or chocolate chips if desired.
• Pour into prepared pan and level with spatula or spoon.
• Bake 25-30 minutes, or test with toothpick.
• I like mine gooey in the middle.
• Cool and frost if desired.
• (Try my Fluffy Butter Cocoa Frosting) Cut into desired servings.

ULTIMATE FUDGY COCOA BROWNIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Line 8-inch square pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides; spray with cooking spray.
• Whisk butter and cocoa powder until blended. Beat eggs in medium bowl with mixer on high speed 1 min. or until frothy and lemon colored. Add sugar, vanilla and cocoa powder mixture; stir until blended. Stir in flour. Pour into prepared pan.
• Bake 25 min. or until toothpick inserted in center comes out with fudgy crumbs. (Do not overbake.) Cool completely. Use foil handles to remove brownie from pan before cutting to serve.