Light My Fire Brownie Sundaes Recipes

WARM CARAMEL BROWNIE SUNDAES

Steps:

• To make the brownies, preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter an 8x8-inch baking dish.
• Put the chocolate in a heat-proof glass bowl, cover with plastic wrap or a paper towel, and microwave at 30-second intervals until just melted, 1 to 3 minutes depending on your microwave. Or, if you don't have a microwave, bring about 1 inch water to a simmer in the bottom of a double boiler or in saucepan into which another pan will fit without touching the water. Put the chocolate in the top of the double boiler or in the top pan, and let the water simmer until the chocolate melts, 2 to 3 minutes; remove from the heat and set aside.
• In a mixing bowl with a wooden spoon, beat the butter with the sugar until creamy and light colored. Add the melted chocolate and the vanilla and stir until smooth. In a small bowl with a fork, beat the eggs. Pour the eggs into the chocolate mixture and blend well. Stir in flour. Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and bake on the middle rack until a knife inserted into the center of the brownies comes out not quite clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool about 10 minutes.
• While the brownies bake, make the caramel sauce. Put the sugar and 1/2 cup water in a non-aluminum saucepan over low heat. Cook, stirring, until the sugar is dissolved (the liquid will look clear), 1 to 2 minutes. Turn the heat up to medium and cook without stirring until the liquid-called a sugar syrup-turns a caramel color, about 20 minutes. (You'll see the syrup develop big, slow-breaking bubbles as the water boils away, and then it will begin to darken around the edges of the pan. Swirl the pan a little for even cooking.)
• When the syrup has turned a dark amber color, remove the pan from the heat and immediately pour in the cream. Stand back-the caramel will sputter. Stir to combine. (The sauce will be lumpy-that's normal. The caramel hardens on contact with the cream.) Return to low heat to melt the caramel and cook until smooth. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla.
• While the oven is still hot, spread the pecans out on a baking sheet and toast until fragrant, about 10 minutes.
• To serve, cut four 4-inch brownies and put them in something attractive-a shallow bowl, a deep plate, or a wide-bowled, long-stemmed something. Add a couple of scoops of ice cream. Pour some of the sauce over and sprinkle with the nuts. Watch them drool.

HOMEMADE BROWNIE SUNDAES

Steps:

• In a large heavy saucepan, melt butter and chocolate over low heat; stir until smooth. Cool., In a large bowl, beat eggs and sugar on low speed until combined. Beat on medium-high until thickened and lemon-colored, about 12 minutes. Beat in vanilla and chocolate mixture. Fold in flour and salt just until blended (batter will be thick). Fold in walnuts if desired. , Transfer to two greased 13x9-in. baking pans. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on wire racks for 15 minutes. , In a large saucepan, combine the cream, sugar and butter. Cook and stir until sugar is dissolved. Bring to a boil, without stirring. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 3 minutes. Cool for 3 minutes. , Place cocoa in a heat-proof bowl. Carefully whisk hot liquid into cocoa until smooth (do not scrape pan). Cut brownies into squares; serve with ice cream and hot fudge sauce. Garnish with whipped cream and cherries if desired.

LIGHT MY FIRE BROWNIE SUNDAES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F You'll need 16 heart-shaped foil baking cups (raynoleds' fun shapes) on a rimmed baking sheet, or a 3in heart shaped cookie cutter and a 13 x 9 in baking pan lined with nonstick foil(let foil extend about 2 in above pan at both ends).
• Brownies: Microwave butter and chocolate in large bowl on high, stirring every 20 seconds, until melted and smooth. Whisk in sugar, then eggs, 1 at a time, then vanilla. With a rubber spatula, stir in flour, cocoa powder and salt just until blended. Stir in pecans. Divide batter evenly amoun baking cups, or spread into baking pan.
• Bake 20 to 22 minutes for foil cups, 24 to 26 minutes for baking pan, or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out with moist crumbs clinging. Transfer to a wire rack; cool completely. Remove brownies from cups or, holding foil by ends, lift from pan, cut out 12 hearts with cookie cutter and carefully remove foil.
• Sauce: Drain pie filling in a colander; discard liquid. Mix 1 tbsp cranberry juice and the cornstarch in a small bowl. Stir remaining juice and the sugar in a 10 in skillet over medium-high heat until it boils and sugar dissolves. Using a whisk, stir in cornstarch mixture. Cook, stirring, until thickened. Add almond extract and cherries; stir 3 minutes or until hot.
• Slowly pour brandy over cherries and carefully ignite with a long match. Shake pan back and forth until flames die out.
• Top each with a small scoop of ice cream, then warm or room temperature sauce.