Your nephew. Your boss’s daughter. Your boyfriend’s kid from his first marriage. When new children enter your life, make these brownies to sweet-tooth your way into their world.
MAKES: nine 2½-inch-square brownies
INGREDIENTS:
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- Three 1-ounce squares unsweetened baking chocolate
- 1 stick unsalted butter
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup sugar
- ¾ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
INSTRUCTIONS:
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- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Grease an 8-by-8-inch glass or ceramic baking pan.
- In a double boiler set over simmering water, melt the chocolate and butter. (If you don’t have a double boiler, place the chocolate and butter in a metal mixing bowl over a pot of barely simmering water, making sure not to get water into the chocolate mix.) Remove the melted chocolate mixture from the heat and let cool slightly.
- In a large bowl with a mixer at medium speed, beat the eggs until smooth. Gradually add the sugar, beating until very thick and pale yellow, about 6 minutes. Add the vanilla and melted chocolate mixture and stir until blended.
- Gently fold in the flour until just combined. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan.
- Bake for 14 to 16 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center has moist crumbs attached. Don’t overbake; brownies should be very moist.
- Remove the pan from the oven, place it on a wire rack, and let cool completely.
- Cut into nine 2½-inch squares and serve
