Chewy Cocoa Brownies

Kelleigh's Note:

taken from http://www.verybestbaking.com/

• Total Time: 45 mins
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 48

• 1 2⁄3; cups granulated sugar
• ¾ cup butter or ¾ cup margarine , melted
• 2 tablespoons water
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 1⁄3; cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup Nestle Toll House baking cocoa
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup chopped nuts (optional)
• powdered sugar

Directions:

1. PREHEAT oven to 350° F.
2. Grease 13 x 9-inch baking pan.
3. COMBINE sugar, butter and water in large bowl.
4. Stir in eggs and vanilla extract.
5. Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt in medium bowl; stir into sugar mixture.
6. Stir in nuts.
7. Spread into prepared baking pan.
8. BAKE for 18 to 25 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out slightly sticky.
9. Cool completely in pan on wire rack.
10. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.
11. Cut into bars.

Reviews

[Debbwl]

Very Flexible and tasty brownie with a nice soft yet light texture. I cut the recipe in half and baked in a 9x9 pan, also used a really good quality dark cocoa powder instead of the suggested baking cocoa. I then cut these into harts and placed atop of Raspberry Sauce and layered with White Chocolate Mousse for a very special valentines treat. Thanks so much for the post.

[bmcnichol]

These had great flavor but were really dry. I followed the recipe exactly as written (I even went back and double checked as I thought I had done something wrong). I did not add the optional nuts nor did I top the brownies with sugar. I only cooked for 15 minutes so I didn't overbake so not sure what went wrong.

[Chef #1168308]

These brownies were so good I literally had to force myself to give most of them away so that I would stop eating them. I followed the recipe for the most part, but I added a little bit of dark chocolate to the melted butter and a little extra water. Even with an extra table spoon of water the brownies were really thick and hard to spread in the pan. I got it in the pan and then used a piece of parchment paper to press them down into shape. Worked perfectly. I was a little worried, because of how thick the batter was, but these turned out great! I live in Germany now and they don't really have brownies, but even the Germans liked my "traditional American cookie" :)