Truffle Brownies

Truffle Brownies - made December 15, 2012 from The Fearless Baker by Emily Luchetti

Merry Christmas Eve!

I borrowed this book from the library during my virtuous phase of borrowing baking books instead of buying them.  So far the phase is holding.  It helps that I copied the recipes I was most interested in before I returned the book.  This is one of them.  And it lives up to its name because it's definitely a truffle in brownie form.  If you like fudgy brownies, this is one slight step beyond that. If you like the dense creamy filling of dark chocolate truffles, try this recipe.  Use the highest quality unsweetened chocolate you can afford (Scharffenberger comes to mind) because that makes or breaks this brownie.  It's pure chocolate.  The recipe says to cut into 16 squares but I recommend treating it like fudge and cutting the pieces smaller.  To offset the richness, you can also sprinkle toffee bits on top or swirl it with caramel but I went for the pure unadulterated chocolate version.  Suffice it to say, with my sweet tooth gone AWOL, one small piece was sufficient for me.  Don't overbake or you won't get the creamy, fudgy texture.

8 ounces unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter

4 large eggs

1 cup granulated sugar

¾ cup firmly packed light brown sugar

¾ cup all-purpose unbleached flour

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Large pinch kosher salt

1.     Preheat the oven to 350⁰F.  Grease the bottom and sides of a 9 x 9-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.

2.     Melt the chocolate and butter in the top half of a double boiler over simmering water.  Stir and scrape the sides occasionally with the rubber spatula until the chocolate is smooth and evenly melted.  Let cool to room temperature.

3.     In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until combined, then whisk in the melted chocolate.  Add the flour, vanilla, and salt, and continue to whisk until the mixture is smooth and evenly combined.  Pour into the prepared pan and smooth the surface with the baking spatula, preferably an offset spatula.

4.     Bake the brownies for 20 minutes and check for doneness by inserting a toothpick in the middle.  When it comes out a little fudgy, not quite clean, the brownies are done.  If they’re a little too wet, bake 5 minutes longer and check again.

5.     Let the brownies cool in the pan, then cut into 16 squares.