Bittersweet Beachside Brownies Recipes

JOHN SCHARFFENBERGER'S FAVORITE BROWNIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325 F.
• Melt chocolate and butter in a double boiler over simmering water.
• Stir sugar into chocolate until blended. Add eggs and vanilla. Stir in flour and nuts. Spread into a buttered 13" x 9" baking pan.
• Bake 30-35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes up with crumbs (not batter). Cool in pan.

GUINNESS BROWNIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9-by-9-inch baking pan with cooking spray and line the bottom with parchment, leaving a 2-inch overhang on 2 of the sides. Spray the parchment with cooking spray.
• Whisk the flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder and kosher salt in a medium bowl until combined.
• Slowly pour the Guinness into a medium saucepan, trying to make as little foam as possible. (Hold the pot at an angle and press the lip of the bottle to the side of the pot and slowly pour. This should help eliminate foam.) Bring the beer to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until thickened and reduced to 1/3 cup, 12 to 13 minutes (you may need to pour the beer into a liquid measuring cup a few times to make sure it is reduced enough). Add the butter and whisk constantly until melted, about 1 minute. Add the bittersweet chocolate and whisk constantly until melted and smooth, about 2 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the granulated sugar until combined. Whisk in the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract until just combined. Add the flour mixture and stir slowly until combined, taking care that none of the flour spills out of the pot. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan.
• Bake until set on top, the brownies have slightly pulled away from the sides and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs, 30 to 35 minutes. Sprinkle the flaky sea salt on top.
• Let cool in the pan for 30 minutes, then use the parchment overhang to remove the brownies from the pan to a cutting board and let cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• Use a fine-mesh sieve to sprinkle the confectioners' sugar on top of the brownies and slice into 16 squares.

ULTIMATE FUDGY BROWNIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. Line a 9-in. square baking pan with parchment, letting ends extend up sides. In a large heavy saucepan, combine sugars, butter, water and, if desired, coffee granules; bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; add 1-3/4 cups chocolate chips and stir until melted. Cool slightly., In a large bowl, whisk eggs until foamy, about 3 minutes. Add vanilla; gradually whisk in chocolate mixture. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking soda and salt; stir into chocolate mixture. Fold in remaining chocolate chips., Pour into prepared pan. Bake on a lower oven rack 40-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out with moist crumbs (do not overbake). Cool completely in pan on a wire rack., Lifting with parchment, remove brownies from pan. Cut into squares.

S'MORE BROWNIES

Steps:

• Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and heat oven to 325 degrees F. Line an 8 by-8-inch square baking pan with foil so it hangs over the edges by about 1 inch.
• For the crust: Lightly butter the foil with some of the melted butter. Stir the rest of the butter together with the crumbs, sugar, and salt in a medium bowl. Press the crumb mixture evenly over the bottom of the pan. Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the brownie. Put the butter and chocolate in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Melt in the microwave on 75 percent power for 2 minutes. Stir, and microwave again until completely melted, about 2 minutes more. Alternatively, put the butter and chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Bring a saucepan filled with 1 inch or so of water to a very slow simmer; set the bowl on the pan without touching the water. Stir occasionally until melted. Stir the light brown and white sugars, vanilla and salt into the melted chocolate. Add the eggs and beat vigorously to make a thick and glossy batter. Add the flour and stir until just incorporated.
• Pour batter into the prepared pan. Bake until the top is crispy and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out mostly clean, with a few crumbs, about 40 to 45 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and carefully position a rack about 6 inches from the broiler and preheat on low. Layer marshmallows across the top and toast under the broiler until golden, (keep an eye on it, it can go quick), about 2 minutes. Cool on a rack, gently removing the brownies from the pan using the aluminum flaps. Carefully separate any marshmallow from the foil and fold away. Cut into 12 (2-inch) squares.

BITTERSWEET BEACHSIDE BROWNIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, melt the chocolate with the 1 cup butter, stirring occasionally; set aside.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and both sugars.
• Stir in the melted chocolate and butter.
• Stir in the vanilla.
• In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and cinnamon.
• Stir the flour mixture into the chocolate mixture until well combined.
• Grease a 13 by 9-inch pan with nonstick cooking spray or the 1-2 tablespoons of butter.
• Pour the batter into the pan and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
• Let the brownies cool to room temperature before cutting into 3-inch squares.