Last week I had a giveaway for some Valentine’s Day Goodies. I asked all of you a simple question, “Whats your favorite part about Valentine’s Day?” There was an overwhelming response to this question – CHOCOLATE! I’m so glad we’re all on the same page. Chocolate truffles, heart shaped chocolates, chocolate covered strawberries — I can eat it all.
Today I’m sharing with you the BEST brownie recipe I’ve ever made. I came across it about 2 years ago from Bon Appetit Magazine and I’ve been making my own version of it ever since. I’ve tried other recipes but nothing compares. This is the Super Bowl of Brownies.
What makes this recipe a stand out?? Well, I few things. It has melted brown butter, which is amazing. Brown butter recipes seem to be popping up a lot more as of late, but I love using brown butter in desserts, pastas, vegetables. Brown butter has a lovely nutty flavor and adds a level of complexity.
These brownies call for just 1/3 cup of flour, so they’re super dense. That’s a requirement for a brownie. I want a dense and chocolaty brownie.
This might sound strange to you, but I like to add hickory smoked almonds to brownie batter. I love a dessert with a little taste of salt…and some crunch, too. Crushed almonds have the best crunch.
As decadent as these brownies taste, their super easy to make. If you bring these brownies to a Super Bowl Party or make them for Valentine’s Day, people will think you slaved in the kitchen all day.
The Best Brownie Recipe
- Nonstick vegetable oil spray
- 10 tbsp unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 1/4 cups sugar
- 3/4 cup natural unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tsp water
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs, chilled
- 1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon unbleached all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup hickory smoked almonds, crushed
Directions:
- Position rack in bottom third of oven; preheat to 325°F. Line 8×8 baking pan with foil and leaving 2-inch overhang. Coat foil with nonstick spray.
- Melt butter in medium saucepan over medium heat. Continue cooking until butter stops foaming and browned bits form at bottom of pan, stirring often. Remove from heat; immediately add sugar, cocoa, 2 teaspoons water and vanilla. Stir to blend. Let cool 5 minutes.
- Add eggs to hot mixture 1 at a time, beating vigorously to blend after each addition.
- When mixture looks thick and shiny, add flour and stir until blended. Beat vigorously 60 strokes. Stir in nuts. Transfer batter to pan. Batter will be thick.
- Bake brownies for 25 minutes. Check brownies by inserting toothpick, a few moist crumbs might stick to toothpick. Cool in pan on rack. Using foil overhang, lift brownies from pan. Cut into squares. Store in an air tight container.
Inspired by Bon Appetit
I SO need to try browned butter brownies. These are super gorgeous and now I TOTALLY want brownies. Like, I need to figure out how to get some in my mouth now.
And the almonds are genius, BTW.
Thanks Dorothy!! That’s a great compliment coming from you!!
I am so intrigued by the smoked almonds in these! I’d love to have you come and link up at Taste and Tell Thursdays!!
Hi Deborah. Thanks for coming by!! I’ll be sure to check out your link party!
Hi Deborah! I’ll check out your link party this week!
That looks seriously delicious! I’m always on the hunt for the best brownie recipe ever. Definitely trying these.
Thanks!! You will LOVE them!!
Awesome!! Thank you!! I’m making more on Saturday… it’s a dangerous treat to have in the house!!
I really need to get on the brown butter thing…these sound so good. And I usually don’t like nuts in my brownies, but I think I could go for the almonds
Give it a try! Nuts are always optional
They sound great!! Love the almonds.
Thanks, Shiloh!
Gosh… these look SO good!! I love me a good brownie!! I hope you’ll come and share them at my Super Saturday Show & Tell tomorrow
http://www.whatscookingwithruthie.com xoxo~ Ruthie
I love nuts in my brownies. Sadly my family would boycott. Wait, maybe that’s good…I get them all!!!
Sounds like a good plan, Aimee!
Every time I see these pictures I die at how chocolatey and fudgey these brownies are!! And I love that you used brown butter…it adds such a great flavor to baked goods!!!
THANKS Jocelyn!! I’m obsessed with these brownies. I’m making more this weekend because I can’t stay away!
Chocolate is my weakness. Your brownies look amazing!
If you love chocolate, you’ll ADORE these brownies!
Love how rich and fudgy these look!
SO addicting!!
Those look so rich and fudgey!! My favorite kind of brownie!!! Thanks for linking up at Show Me Your Plaid Monday’s
I love brownies, and I can never seem to find a good recipe. But these look uh-mazing.
I have a thing about chocolate! I think the sprinkles look adorable on these brownies! Thanks for sharing this at What’s In The Gunny Sack!
I got the sprinkles from Target. You still have time to pick some up!!
I just made these- they are in the oven as I write. Thanks for a great recipe. If the brownies taste half as good as the batter, I’m a convert!
That’s great!!!
I made these last night for a gathering and 3/4 of the pan were gone in 10 minutes. People were crazy for them. I altered the recipe a bit: added two more TBS butter, used less sugar (about a cup) and more cocoa powder (I full cup instead of a half) then added cinnamon to the batter. They were awesome-so fudgy, soft..mm..Thanks for sharing this recipe.
I’m so happy everyone LOVED them! And I’m even happier you made changes to make the recipe your own!! That’s what cooking is ALL about
Love how fudgy these look!!! Thanks for linking up!!
That’s why I love them!!
This is such bad news. I have my ONE TRUE BROWNIE from which I’ve sworn to never stray. And here you have me rethinking that. I feel like a cheater.
Thanks for linking up to What’s Cookin’ Wednesday!
Mental affairs happen when it comes to brown butter brownies