Fudgy Brownie with Salted Chocolate Frosting

I normally don't crave sweets but when I do, I crave hard. I wanted something sweet but a bit salty & bitter. I also wanted something chewy. The only thing that could satisfy this craving are Fudgy Brownies! I've made these brownies several times and they always come out delicious! There are some add ins that I swap out. Sometimes I'll add orange zest   or lime zest. Sometimes I'll add cinnamon & cayenne. Sometimes I'll just kept it pure chocolate. This time around I added cinnamon & cardamon. I love the combination of the two. Cinnamon gives these brownies warmth and the cardamon gives them this flowery note that goes great with the chocolate.

The cocoa powder is important. I use dark cocoa powder when I want an intense chocolate, richer, more bitter less sweet. I'll use a regular natural cocoa powder, more sweet less bitter. On the occasion I'll divide the amount of cocoa equally. My personal favorite is the dark cocoa powder. I just love the richness!  Yum!! 

The frosting is a chocolaty frosting with just a touch of salt. The salt shows off the chocolate in the best way. You always need a little salt in your sweet! 

Buen Provecho!! 

Fudgy Brownie- yields 12-16 squares 

Ingredients:

3/4 cocoa powder

1 stick of butter

1 cup sugar 

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp salt

2  large eggs

2/3 cups flour

1 tsp cinnamon (optional)

1/2 tsp cardamon (optional)

Salted Chocolate Frosting:

1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 tbsp butter

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1-2 tbsp powder sugar

1 tbsp milk

Up to 1/8 tsp salt, taste as you add

Road Map:

1. Preheat oven 325F. Melt stick of butterin saucepan. Meanwhile mix cocoa with sugar in a medium bowl. Whisk hot butter to mixture. Mixture will appear grainy.

2. Add vanilla, salt and eggs. Mix 1 egg at a time.

3. Add flour until well incorporated. The batter will be thick. Pour batter into an 8x8 pan, smooth out. Bake for 35 mins. If using a nonstick pan bake for 20-25 mins.

7.  Test brownie with a toothpick to check doneness. If toothpick comes out clean it's ready. Let brownies cool completely in pan, meanwhile make frosting.

8. Melt chocolate chips in microwave for about 1 1/2 minutes in 30 second intervals, mix each time until chocolate is melted. You may not need all 1 1/2 minutes. Once chocolate is melted add butter, milk, vanilla mix well. Add salt little by little. Do to your taste. 

9. Add powder sugar 1 tbsp at a time, test for thickness and sweetness. Add sugar to taste. 

10. Once brownies are completely cool cover in frosting. Let stand until frosting has set. Enjoy!! 

Melt stick of butter

Combine sugar & cocoa

Add hot butter

Mix together. Mixture will be grainy.

Add 1/4 tsp salt

Add 1 tsp vanilla extract

Add eggs, 1 at a time

Add 1 tsp cinnamon

Add 1/2 tsp Cardamon

Add flour and mix. Use a spatula or wooden spoon. Ignore the whisk in the picture.

The batter will be thick.

Spread batter into an 8x8 pan.

Test with toothpick for doneness.

Frosting time. Melt chocolate in microwave 30 seconds at a time. Mix each time...

...until it looks like this.

Add 1 tbsp butter. Chocolate may clump up just keep mixing.

Add milk & vanilla and mix until smooth.

It should look like this.

Pour over cooled brownies.

Spread and let stand until frosting sets.

Ready!

So chocolaty! Enjoy with a tall glass of milk!!