Moosewood Fudge Brownies

One of the very best brownie recipes out there!  Right out of the Moosewood Cookbook.  No alterations.  Mollie Katzen lists all sorts of add ins, and I have no doubt that they would all be delicious.  But I wanted to stick to the basics.  Plain chocolaty fudgy awesomeness.  To be eaten warm with vanilla ice cream and a sprinkle of Saigon cinnamon.  Bliss!  And yes that is a corner piece in the picture.  I am one of those people who likes the edges of brownies, the lasagne from the corner and the crunchy end of a baguette.  Can't help myself, somehow it is just better! 

Ok, back to the brownies.  These are serious brownies.  Serious chocolate factor.  These brownies have to be eaten with ice cream.  Don't argue with me.  It is the truth.  Though I suppose if you are a milk drinker you could get by with a big cold glass of milk.  Me, I'll take the ice cream.  So here is the recipe, right from the book.  I'll list the optional add ins at the end.

Choose your brownie making music - I'll suggest Wilco, but you go for whatever you like.  This recipe is all about options after all!

1/2 lb butter (2 sticks) very soft but not melted
5 oz. unsweetened chocolate
1 3/4 cups light brown sugar (packed)
5 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup flour (you can use 3/4 cup for fudgier brownies)

Preheat oven to 350.  Butter a 9x13 baking dish.

Melt chocolate slowly and then let it cool for about 10 minutes.

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Add eggs one at a time and beat well in between.  With the mixer running add the vanilla and drizzle in the melted chocolate - be sure to get every last bit out of the pan you melted it in!  Beat well for a minute or two.  Stir in the flour, and any add ins, until just combined.  Pour into prepared baking dish and spread out evenly.

Bake 20 to 25 minutes (mine took just over 30) or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.  Cut brownies while still hot and then let cool for ten minutes before you dig in.

These are DELICIOUS plain but here is the list of "embellishments" that Katzen suggests:

1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
2 to 4 tbls. very strong black coffee
1 tsp. freshly grated orange or lemon zest
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 cup chocolate chips
1 mashed very ripe banana

I think maybe next time I will go for the mashed banana and coffee and maybe some shredded coconut.  Then it will be like the Mocha Monkey smoothie from St. Joe's Coffee.  I am dreaming about it already!