gooey fudge brownies.

Today I got back from doing a wedding in Lake Geneva, and had a major chocolate craving. Brownies. I wanted decadent, gooey, fudgy brownies, with a rich frosting. So amidst the chaos of unpacking and preparing to head to LA tomorrow for another wedding, I popped out a pan of richness. I forgot to capture the finished product; my craving was too strong and I dug right in.

Use quality cocoa, it makes all the difference.

Ready to bake. Make sure to snag a bite of batter.

Frosting!

Baked and ready to assemble, with a few mini chocolate chips to sprinkle on top.

Gooey Fudge Brownies:
1 stick butter, melted
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 eggs
1/2 cup flour
1/3 cup cocoa powder (Ghiradelli is the BEST)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
Frosting (recipe below)
Toppings (chopped nuts, chocolate chips, coconut)

Stir the sugar into the melted butter. Add vanilla and eggs and beat well. Mix in flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking powder and stir until well combined. Pour into a greased 8x8 pan and bake for about 22 minutes. I like my brownies a bit undercooked, so add time if you like them well done. Remove from the oven and let them cool. Spread with frosting and add toppings!

... if you cant wait, and must have one right away, cut a piece of the warm brownie, and top with a Tablespoon of frosting. It gets melty and delicious...

Fluffy Frosting:
3 Tablespoons Soft Butter
1 teaspoon corn syrup
3 Tablespoons Cocoa
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup powdered sugar
1-2 Tablespoons milk

With a beater, mix butter, cocoa, corn syrup and vanilla. Slowly add powdered sugar. Beat in milk until you reach your desired consistency. Spread on brownies once they are cooled.