How to bake the perfect brownie was the most popular post of 2021! I shared my top 5 secrets to baking them!
In place of a traditional top ten review, this year I sat down and figured out which topics you found the most intriguing. Welcome to ” Foodie Friday”; we will look back at the #1 blog post of the year: How to Bake the Perfect Brownie! In this post, I shared the 5 secrets to baking the perfect brownie!
I have been a chocolate lover for years! In fact, my original business plan was centered around opening a tearoom where all we would serve was flourless chocolate cake and iced tea! Probably not the best plan so it never happened!
If you are interested, you can read about what did happen here: Sprout/ Grow /Bloom My Entreprenurial Journey.
If you don’t have thyme to visit the blog post about the 5 secrets to baking the perfect brownie, I have shared the recipe for Brownie pizza below.
Fudgy Brownie Pizza
Equipment
- medium sauce pan
- mixing bowl
- electric mixer
- 9 " round baking pan
- spatula
- parchment paper
- knife to cut brownies after they have cooled
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter or margarine
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 eggs room temperature
- 2 1 ounce squares unsweetened chocolate
- 3/4 cup sifted all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts optional
Instructions
- In a mediium saucepan, melt the butter & chocolate over low heat.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool for 30 minutes
- Pour melted butter/chocolate mixture into mixing bowl
- Beat in sugar
- Blend in eggs one at a time, beat until ribbon stage is reached. *
- Add Vanilla
- Stir in flour and mix well
- Spread batter in a greased 9 " round baking pan.
- If desired, the baking pan can be lined with parchment paper to make it easier to remove brownies when they are done baking.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes
- Caution: do not overbake!
- Remove from oven and allow to cool
- After brownies have cooled for at least 1 hour, cut into 8 slices
Optional Brownie Pizza Toppings
- a simple glaze can be made from powdered sugar (1 cup powdered sugar, 2 tsp vanilla and 2 - 4 tablespoons of milk blended together)
- powdered sugar can be sifted over the top of the brownie
- raspberry sauce from the grocery store can be drizzled over the top of the brownie pizza
- for even more chocolate flavor, chocolate sauce can also be drizzled over the brownie pizza
Notes
- Ribbon Stage is met when the chocolate/egg/sugar mixture drips off the beaters in "ribbons".
- an 8 x 8 square pan can be substituted for the 9 " round pan if you prefer a square brownie
- small pieces of fresh mint can be used to decorate the slices of brownie
One of my goals for 2022 is writing an e book version of my cookbooklet Just Desserts, Herbal of Course!
There is a great recipe in there for Candy Cane Mint Chocolate Frosting! It is so good! I am working on finding a different mint to use because I can’t find a Candy Cane Mint plant!
Look at how young I was!
Continuing on the Chocolate Theme
Another popular post was my post about making hot chocolate sauce! The sauce is meant to be used to make frozen hot chocolate or traditional hot chocolate. However, I use it almost every day in my coffee!
Kim's Hot Chocolate Sauce
Equipment
- 1 quart saucepan
- glass pint jar with lid
- funnel
- wooden spoon
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup Sugar
- 1/2 cup Dutch Process Cocoa do not use coco mix
- 1/4 tsp Cinnamon
- 1 1/3 cups Water
- 1 tablespoon Vanilla
Instructions
- In 1 quart saucepan, mix sugar with cocoa and cinnamon until fairly lump free.
- Stir in water and cook over medium heat , stirring often , until syrup comes to a boil.
- Remove from heat, stir in vanilla, cool to room temperature.
- Pour into glass pint jar, cover with lid and refrigerate up to 4 weeks.
- Makes about 2 cups , enough for 8 servings
Notes
Nutrition
Another Chocolate Creation from the Test Kitchen
In full disclosure, this a picture from the pizza parlor’s kitchen when I was coming up with the recipe for an alfredo sauce-based pizza. I need to have my husband take a picture of me in our Florida kitchen!
This fall, I was playing around with my springform pan and came up with this amazing chocolate graham cracker crust with a pumpkin spice no bake cheesecake filing. The cheesecake was made using a mix from my friends at Mad Dash Mixes. Harvest Thyme Pumpkin Spice No Bake Cheesecake
Harvest Thyme Pumpkin Spice No Bake Cheesecake
Equipment
- mixing spoon
- measuring cup
- mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 16 oz Cream Cheese, Softened low fat cream cheese can be used
- 8 oz Cool Whip other brands of whipped topping can be used
- 1 9" Chocolate Graham cracker crust prepared in a Springform pan
- 1 packet Pumpkin Spice No Bake Cheesecake Mix by Mad Dash Mixes
- Decorative Sprinkles if desired
Instructions
- Add softened cream cheese and the Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake Mix in a bowl. Blend until Creamy
- Fold in Cool Whip or other whipped topping
- Gently Spread in prepared 9 " crust in Springform pan
- Chill for at least 3 hours
- After the cheesecake has chilled, remove from refrigerator
- unlatch the latch and carefully remove the outside portion of the Springform pan
- If desired, sprinkle Decorative Chocolate Sprinkles over the top of the Cheesecake
- slice cheesecake into 12 slices and serve. Cover & refrigerate any remaining cheesecake
And one more chocolate based cheesecake recipe
Chocolate Chip No Bake Cheesecake
Equipment
- mixing spoon
- measuring cup
- mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 16 oz Cream Cheese, Softened low fat cream cheese can be used
- 8 oz Cool Whip other brands of whipped topping can be used
- 1 8" Chocolate Graham cracker crust
- 1 packet chocolate chip No Bake Cheesecake Mix by Mad Dash Mixes
- Oreo cookies for top of cheesecake if desired
Instructions
- Add softened cream cheese and the Cheesecake Mix in a bowl. Blend until Creamy
- Fold in Cool Whip or other whipped topping
- Gently Spread in 8 " crust
- Chill for at least 3 hours
- After the cheesecake has chilled, remove from refrigerator
- If desired, place Oreo cookies over the top of the Cheesecake
- slice cheesecake into 12 slices and serve. Cover & refrigerate any remaining cheesecake
Notes
I am planning on using this cheesecake tonight for my New Year’s Eve Tex Mex Buffet!
Thank you for joining me on my journey this past year! I am excited to see what 2022 brings us!
Leave a Reply