When I am feeling particularly lazy but need Lunchbox treats for the week I like to whip up a batch of Brownies. They are so easy to make and are a sure hit…the challenge will be to make them last for the week!
1 1/3 cup Flour
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 cup Butter
1 cup Cocoa
2 cups Sugar
4 Eggs, slightly beaten
1 1/2 teaspoons Vanilla
Preheat oven to 350F.
Lightly spray a 9x13inch pan with vegetable oil spray or line a mini muffin tin with muffin liners.
In small mixing bowl, combine flour, salt and baking powder.
In medium size saucepan, melt butter over low to medium heat.
Add sugar to melted butter and stir for a minute.
Remove from heat and stir in cocoa. Mix well, until no lumps remain.
Add eggs, one at a time and stirring well after each addition.
Stir in Vanilla.
Pour in dry ingredients and carefully stir in until all the flour is incorporated then stir vigorously for 2 – 3 minutes.
Pour batter into prepared 9×13 or use a 2ounce Pampered Chef Scoop to portion into 24 mini muffin cups.
Bake in preheated 350F oven for 25 – 30 minutes, or until pick inserted in centre comes out clean. Two Bite Brownies for 16 – 20 minutes.
*As an alternative to Fudgy Cocoa Frosting, at this point you may break a family size Chocolate bar into bits, sprinkle on top of the warm brownies and return the pan to the turned off oven. Leave for a few minutes. Remove from oven and gently spread melty chocolate over the surface of the brownies. I like Fruit and Nut bar
Remove from oven and cool completely on wire rack.
Frost with:
Fudgy Cocoa Frosting
3 Tablespoons melted Butter
1/4 cup Cocoa
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla
splash of strong brewed Coffee
2 cups Icing Sugar
Add cocoa to melted butter and stir until no lumps remain. Stir in vanilla, coffee and 1 cup of icing sugar stirring well.
Add second cup of icing sugar, stirring until no lumps remain then beating for 2 minutes.
Spread on cooled Brownies.
Reduced Fat Brownies:
Substitute 1/2 cup butter and 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce for the cup of butter.
Substitute 1/3 cup of the flour with Whole Wheat Flour.
Chocolate Chunk and Fruit Brownies:
To Reduced Fat Brownies add:
1 cup Sultanas
1 cup Chocolate Chunks
Stir the Fruit and Chocolate in with the dry ingredients.
Looks awesome, the tricky thing with brownies is to keep them chewy and moist, these look amazing. I like your alternate icing ideas.
The Cadbury Fruit and Nut Bar happened because it was all the chocolate I had in the house…it was amazing!