Thursday, November 3, 2011

Brown Butter Brownies


I made these brownies the first time for my friend Kate's birthday and have made them several times since.  This is my go-to recipe for brownies now 1. because they are the most amazing brownies I have ever tasted in my whole entire life, hands down, no question about it, and 2. because they take about 15 minutes to throw together but taste like I must have slaved away for at least double that.

Maybe I have never told you this about myself, but I am utterly and hopelessly in love with brown butter.  Brown butter will make anything taste better.  It adds a depth to food that can only be replicated by, well, more brown butter.  It is also a very sneaky-sneaky ingredient because people can often taste that there is something unique in what they're tasting, but can never pin point it.  That's because most people have never even heard of brown butter.  I make a lot of things with brown butter in them and when I giddily reveal my "secret" ingredient, I am often met with a blank stare.  Dang.  But, then I get to educate people on the wonders and awe of brown butter and that makes me happy.  Everyone needs a bit of brown butter in their lives, and especially the tummy part of their lives.


I hope you enjoy these as much as I do.  I don't know what else to tell you about them, except that you should go make them.  So, go!  Go make them!  Then eat 'em and enjoy!



Brown Butter Brownies


PRINT THIS RECIPE!


Adapted from Bon Appetit



Ingredients


10 tbsp (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1 1/4 cups sugar
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (not dutch process)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp (heaping) salt
large eggs, chilled
1/3 cup + 1 tbsp unbleached all purpose flour
cup nuts, chopped and toasted (My personal favorite is pecans, but walnuts are almost as amazing)


Directions


Preheat oven to 325°F. Grease and then line an 8x8 baking dish with parchment paper, press paper firmly against pan sides and leave a 2-inch overhang.  Melt the butter in medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Continue cooking until butter stops foaming and browned bits form at bottom of pan, stirring often, about 5-8 minutes. Remove from heat and add sugar, cocoa, 2 teaspoons water, vanilla, and salt and stir to blend. Let cool 5 minutes and then add eggs to hot mixture 1 at a time, beating quickly to blend after each addition. When mixture looks thick and shiny, add flour and stir until blended and then beat  vigorously for one minute. Stir in nuts and transfer batter to prepared pan.


Bake brownies until toothpick inserted into center comes out almost clean (with a few moist crumbs attached), about 25 minutes.  Cool in pan on rack.  Use parchment paper overhang to lift the brownies from the pan.  Cut brownies into squares and...


Eat it!

23 comments:

  1. Wow that's a super fast brown recipe. Sounds great!

    ReplyDelete
  2. This brownie looks like the perfect pick me up. Easy to make and fudgy.I first will need to find a hiding place so the chocoholic will not devour this. Great post.

    ReplyDelete
  3. These brownies look so moist and delicious!! I will save this recipe for a future reference. Thanks so much for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Mmm I love brownies and these look so delicious! Great recipe! :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am so with you - brown butter makes everything taste better! Brown butter brownies?! SOLD. Thanks for sharing this great recipe! And for stopping by my blog so I could discover yours :-D

    ReplyDelete
  6. Yum! These Brownies look awesome! I love it! Definitly going to try these out!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Those are some fantastic looking brownies!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. So, if I beg hard enough will you send a tray of these fudgy, mouth-watering brownies my way?? Haha, they look SO GOOD! I'm afraid of making brown butter myself. I tried a brown butter sauce a few years ago and burnt it and it was so disgusting. Now I'm scarred for life.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Awww, Colleen...don't be scared of the brown butter. You just have to keep your eye on it because it will turn on your fast. Seriously, give it another go, because it kick a lot of baked goods up a notch!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh, I LOVE these brownies! So fudgy and delicious! Brown butter makes everything better :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. What a great idea to make it with browned butter! I bet the flavor was amazing! Buzzed!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Brown butter is the bomb dot com. We have a long-standing love affair with it, too. Your brownies look fabulous--so moist and fudgy.

    ReplyDelete
  13. You forgot the sugar! I was browning my butter as realized it but I found it online. My new 2nd favorite brownie. Very easy!!

    Tip-.find good cocoa online. The stuff you get in the grocery store is 4-5% cocoa butter. Good stuff like Callebaut is more like 20-25%. Huge difference.

    ReplyDelete
  14. @ Unknown...WHOA!! and YIKES! Thank you for the catch! I already updated it. Thank you also for the tip on the cocoa. High quality ingredients = high quality yummies!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Oh yeah, butter brownies is what I'm talkin about! These sound awesome :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Delicious looking. I'm craving them now at its almost 11pm. Is that too late to make them?

    ReplyDelete
  17. Oh no! Definitely not too late to make them! :-) Never too late to make brownies. And the best way to justify it is then you have easy breakfast tomorrow morning. hehehe

    ReplyDelete
  18. Brown butter is the most amazing thing like ever. I mean besides chocolate of course.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I want these for breakfast every morning while you're here. Your kitchie-coo continues to amaze! Love you daughter

    THe dad

    ReplyDelete
  20. Obviously this makes all the difference - what a decadent dessert :D
    I am in love with your blog, it all looks mouthwatering!

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Awww...thank you! You are so sweet. This comment made my day!

      Delete

I love hearing your feedback! So if you have got something to say, cook it to me here: