Frosted Brownies

Must. Have. Chocolate. Sometimes you just gotta have it! Miniature chocolate chips add a chewy, fudgy decadence to these traditional cocoa-based brownies.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter or shortening
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
3/4 cup all purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
1/3 cup semi-sweet mini-chocolate chips
1/3 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease an 8" x 8" baking pan and coat lightly with flour, shaking out any excess. Beat sugar, eggs and vanilla until light and fluffy.  Soften butter or shortening slightly and stir in cocoa until blended.  Add to egg mixture, beating slowly until combined.

Sift flour, salt and baking powder together and add to above mixture, using a wooden spoon, until well mixed.  Stir in chocolate chips and nuts, if desired. Pour into baking pan and smooth evenly.

Bake for 28-32 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean - but do not overbake.

Let cool completely before frosting (see icing recipe below) and cutting into bars. Decorate with sprinkles or colored sugar for some extra fun.  We place the cut & decorated individual brownies in a cupcake paper case, just like the bakeries do. Store in a covered container.

Buttercream Icing:
   2 cups sifted powdered sugar
   1/2 stick of butter
   1 or 2 Tbsp. of milk or cream
   1 tsp. vanilla
   food coloring - optional

Blend first four ingredients together with electric beater until light and fluffy - adding only as much milk as needed for spreadability. Add a few drops of food color if desired, beating until well blended. 

Comments

[KRG]

Looks good!

[michelle]

MJ - - These looks so yummy... I think I'm going to have to make some for my family!!! thanks for the recipe!!!
{{HUGS}} Michelle