Mar 19, 2009

Recipe: Brownie Bites

Recently, I wanted to make brownies, but realized that I'd run out of brownie mix. I've never been happy with a from-scratch brownie, but I didn't want to spend the money on a mix that wasn't super cheap - in other words, a sale + coupon + electronic coupon resulting in a price of less than $1 per box. Thankfully, the internet is the most wonderful thing ever invented and it took me just a few minutes of searching to find an easy brownie recipe with lots of positive reviews.

I settled on this Brownie Mix in a Jar II recipe, but tweaked it according to the recommendations in the reviews. It was pretty good, so I'll definitely make it again. And I'm also going to keep it mind as a potential gift.

Brownie Bites (adapted from AllRecipes.com)

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups white sugar
1 cup melted butter
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup chopped nuts, optional
2 cups powdered sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.

2. Combine the dry ingredients (flour through sugar) in a large mixing bowl. Add the melted butter, eggs and vanilla. Mix until dry ingredients are just moistened. Add nuts if using, and stir briefly to combine.

3. Pour the batter into the pan and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted two inches from the center comes out clean.

4. Let brownies cool completely. With a sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut the brownies into 1-inch squares.

5. Pour the powdered sugar into a large zip top bag. Add ten or so brownies, close the top of the bag, and shake gently. Remove the powdered brownies, and repeat with the remaining brownies.

Note: When I make this recipe for regular brownies, rather than brownie bites, I will follow the recommendation to add a cup of chocolate chips. I was afraid to do it this time because I didn't want the brownies to be too soft for cutting or too sweet after the powdered sugar coating. I think it was the right call, because the brownies were the perfect texture for cutting into small cubes. They also weren't especially sweet, so I think the chocolate chips will make a great addition.


Update 4/3/09: Thanks to commenters Jennifer Y. and Clean Clutterfree Simple, who recommended this Baker's One Bowl Brownies recipe.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

In case you need another recipe sometime... The recipe on the box of unsweetened Baker's chocolate is wonderful and comes out perfect for me every time. Baker's chocolate goes on sale a lot, especially around the holidays and there are coupons too sometimes.

Clean ClutterFree Simple said...

I agree on the Baker's chocolate box recipe. That's my standard and we all love it. I'll vary it by adding a cup of chocolate chips or nuts sometimes, but the classic always disappears.

Anonymous said...

I dont have any Baker's semisweet chocolate but I have Nestle semisweet chocolate and my recipe calls for 12 squares of Bakers semisweet. How much would that be for a Nestle bag? 12 ounces???

Clean ClutterFree Simple said...

Each square of Baker's is one ounce. Be sure, though, that you are matching unsweetened with unsweetened and semi with semi as using the one instead of the other can have...interesting...results.

For really delish brownies, I indulge and use Scharffenberger baking chocolate...serious yum.

Chief Family Officer said...

@Jennifer - Thanks for the recommendation!

@CCS - Really? I didn't realize that changing the chocolate changed the texture. I tried to hunt down the recipe and sent you a link to see if it looked right to you. Thanks in advance :)

replica watches said...

Preheat the oven to 325°. Spray 2 mini muffin pans with vegetable oil spray. In a bowl, whisk the baking flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt and xanthan gum. In another bowl, whisk the applesauce, oil and vanilla; stir into the dry ingredients. Stir in the chocolate chips. Spoon the batter into the muffin pans, filling them three-quarters full. Bake for 15 minutes, or until set. Let the brownies cool in the pans for 15 minutes, then turn out onto a rack to cool completely.