Alice Pikes Famous Brownies Recipes

BEST COCOA BROWNIES

Steps:

• Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat the oven to 325°F. Line the bottom and sides of the baking pan with parchment paper or foil, leaving an overhang on two opposite sides.
• Combine the butter, sugar, cocoa, and salt in a medium heatproof bowl and set the bowl in a wide skillet of barely simmering water. Stir from time to time until the butter is melted and the mixture is smooth and hot enough that you want to remove your finger fairly quickly after dipping it in to test. Remove the bowl from the skillet and set aside briefly until the mixture is only warm, not hot.
• Stir in the vanilla with a wooden spoon. Add the eggs one at a time, stirring vigorously after each one. When the batter looks thick, shiny, and well blended, add the flour and stir until you cannot see it any longer, then beat vigorously for 40 strokes with the wooden spoon or a rubber spatula. Stir in the nuts, if using. Spread evenly in the lined pan.
• Bake until a toothpick plunged into the center emerges slightly moist with batter, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool completely on a rack.
• Lift up the ends of the parchment or foil liner, and transfer the brownies to a cutting board. Cut into 16 or 25 squares.

NEW CLASSIC BROWNIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line an 8-inch-square metal baking pan with foil. In top of a double boiler set over barely simmering water, or on low power in a microwave, melt butter and chocolate together. Stir often, and remove from heat when a few lumps remain. Stir until smooth.
• Stir in sugar, vanilla and salt. Stir in eggs one at a time, followed by flour. Stir until very smooth, about 1 minute, until mixture pulls away from sides of bowl. Add nuts, if using. Scrape batter into prepared pan and bake 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, prepare a water bath: Pour ice water into a large roasting pan or kitchen sink to a depth of about 1 inch. Remove pan from oven and place in water bath, being careful not to splash water on brownies. Let cool completely, then lift out and cut into 1-inch squares or wrap in foil.

WORLD FAMOUS BROWNIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Line an 8-inch square pan with aluminum foil.
• Place bittersweet chocolate, unsweetened chocolate and butter in a large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 2-3 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds (don't skip this step or the chocolate will scorch!) until mixture is melted. Cool to lukewarm (don't skip this step either or the eggs will curdle!).
• Once mixture is cooled, stir in the sugar, pinch of salt, and vanilla until combined.
• Beat in the eggs by hand, one at a time.
• Add the flour and stir energetically for 3-5 minutes until the batter is thick, smooth, and 'dry'. It will look curdled at first and may have some separated liquid, but if you stir it thoroughly it will reach the correct consistency. (This step is the most important to ensure the brownies have the perfect consistency!).
• Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and bake until the center feels almost set (with a few dry crumbs when tested), about 20-30 minutes. Do not overbake!
• Let the brownies cool completely in the pan before serving. (Note: These brownies will 'mature' and improve in flavor and texture the following day or two after baking. Don't eat them all the first day and you will see what I mean!).
• These brownies can be stored, tightly covered with aluminum foil, at room temperature for up to a week.
• Enjoy!

ALICE PIKE'S FAMOUS BROWNIES

Steps:

• For Brownies: In mixing bowl or food processor blend well, butter, sugar, cocoa, eggs and vanilla.
• Combine flour, baking powder and salt.
• Add to cocoa mix.
• Bake in greased 8x8 square pan for 20-25 min at 350.
• Make them gooey-moist by taking them out just after the middle has puffed up or risen (which is the only way!) Leaving them in longer will give you a cake-like brownie.
• Meanwhile make icing.
• Allow to cool before icing or you can dust with icing sugar (shaken through a sieve).
• They are even good naked.
• For Chocolate Butter Icing: Cream butter with cocoa and 2 cups of icing sugar.
• Beat in 2 tsp vanilla, 2 TBSP milk and 1 cup of icing sugar.
• If needed, gradually add 1-2 TBSP milk until desired spreading consistency.
• Makes enough icing for 2 batches of brownies.
• Will keep in the fridge for a week.