If you have a sweet tooth like me and sometimes just crave a homebaked dessert, then I have a treat for you today. Brownies are crowd-pleasers for sure but baking them at home can be tricky. I'm sure we've all been there, right? The endless quest for that ideal bite - fudgy center, crackly top, and a rich chocolate flavor that lingers like a happy memory. My baking journey has seen its share of brownie attempts, some closer than others, but always falling short of that mythical "best" status. Until this week, that is.
Enter John Kanell and his Preppy Kitchen magic! His Instagram and website are my go-to source for amazing recipes. His easy brownie recipe (check out the OG here: https://preppykitchen.com/brownie-recipe/) is a revelation. Easy peasy, yes, but the results? Pure, gooey, melt-in-your-mouth fudge heaven that I can't wait to bake again. My taste buds did a happy dance, but being the compulsive tinkerer I am, I had to make it mine.
Now, don't get me wrong, John's fudgy brownie recipe is gold. But, my family leans towards less sweet treats, so I dialed down the sugar a notch (300g instead of 400g, and honestly, next time I might even be bolder!). Plus, ditching the microwave for a double boiler to melt the butter felt more appropriate.
Here's my slightly adapted version, ready to take your taste buds on a fudgy joyride:
Easy One-Bowl Brownie Recipe
Ingredients:
- 226g unsalted butter (melted, I skipped the microwave and used a double boiler method)
- 300g granulated sugar (yes, I reduced from the original 400g, and next time I might even go lower!)
- 75g unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3 large eggs, room temp and ready to rumble
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract, for that extra oomph
- 1 teaspoon salt, to balance the sweetness
- 120g all-purpose flour, gently folded in, don't overmix!
- 200g semisweet chocolate chips or chopped dark chocolate
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 175°C and line that 8x8 inch pan with parchment paper or just butter it so your brownie mixture doesn't stick.
- In the same bowl you used for the butter (genius, right?), whisk together the sugar and cocoa powder for at least 30 seconds until they are melted.
- Crack in those eggs one at a time, whisking well after each one to create a fluffy batter dream.
- Vanilla and salt go in next, followed by the flour. Fold gently until just combined, remember, overmixing is the enemy!
- Now for the best part: chocolate chips in my case, I just chopped some dark chocolate and added it to the mixture.
- Pour the batter into your pan and if you want to add more chocolate on top. Then let it bake for 25-30 minutes. A toothpick test is your friend here - moist crumbs mean it's ready to cool down and become everyone's favorite treat.
- Let those brownies cool completely before you slice and dive in. Trust me, it's worth the wait.
My Personal Touches
- Like I mentioned, less sugar for me (and maybe you too!). I have some baking experience so I knew that 400g was a little bit too much sugar for taste. There are a lot of other factors like what percentage of cocoa your dark chocolate has, that impact the sweetness of the recipe you make. Experiment and find your sweet spot.
- Double boiler for the butter melting. I always did it this way as I don't own a microwave and think that this method is easier as I just melt it on a lower heat and mix occasionally.
- This is one of those recipes that allows you to get creative! Nuts, different chocolate chips, a sprinkle of sea salt - the possibilities are endless. I'm definitely going to try and experiment more next time I make it, which will be very soon!
I definitely recommend anyone who is craving something rich and chocolaty to try this recipe. Be sure to check the Preppy Kitchen recipe for a more in-depth guide. Remember, baking is an adventure, and the best recipes are the ones you make your own. There are always some other ways you can adjust any recipe. Even if you fail a few times or it doesn't end up looking as you imagined, at least as it is tasty and you had fun making it, that's all that matters.
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