Chewy, Fudgy Triple Chocolate Brownies

Marz's Note:

From Cook's Illustrated published May 2000. This recipe makes a heck of a good brownie! These are very rich and decadent, it is best to cut them in small, 1 inch squares.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 5 mins
• Prep Time: 25 mins
• Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 24

Yield: 64.0 1 inch ...

• 5 ounces semisweet chocolate or 5 ounces bittersweet chocolate , chopped
• 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate , chopped
• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter , cut into quarters (1 stick)
• 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 3 large eggs
• 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon table salt
• 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour

Directions:

1. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 350°F Spray 8-inch square baking pan with nonstick vegetable cooking spray.
2. Fold two 12-inch pieces of foil lengthwise so that they measure 7 inches wide. Fit one sheet in bottom of greased pan, pushing it into corners and up sides of pan; overhang will help in removal of baked brownies. Following illustration 1 below, fit second sheet in pan in same manner, perpendicular to first sheet. Spray foil with nonstick cooking spray.
3. In medium heatproof bowl set over a pan of almost-simmering water, melt chocolates and butter, stirring occasionally until mixture is smooth. Whisk in cocoa until smooth. Set aside to cool slightly.
4. Whisk together eggs, sugar, vanilla, and salt in medium bowl until combined, about 15 seconds. Whisk warm chocolate mixture into egg mixture; then stir in flour with wooden spoon until just combined. Pour mixture into prepared pan, spread into corners, and level surface with rubber spatula; bake until slightly puffed and toothpick inserted in center comes out with a small amount of sticky crumbs clinging to it, 35 to 40 minutes.
5. Cool on wire rack to room temperature, about 2 hours, then remove brownies from pan using foil handles (see illustration 2, below).
6. Cut into 1-inch squares and serve. (Do not cut brownies until ready to serve; brownies can be wrapped in plastic and refrigerated up to 5 days.).

Reviews

[Digigirl]

I was really expecting to love these brownies as Cooks Illustrated recipes are usually dead on. But this one came out pretty dry for me, and the chocolate flavor is, I don't know.... "dull" is the best way I can describe it. Not terrible, just not great either. I am going to try them again and double check to make sure I did it right and also bake them a little less. Mine came out done (and dry) at only 30 minutes, so maybe I need to bake them a little less.

[Akikobay]

I came to look for this recipe and am so glad I found it here. These brownies are great on the first day, but even better on the second day. How they hold up after that is a mystery that someone else with great restraint will have to tell us. The instructions call for cutting these small, and because they are so wonderfully rich, it works out right. Thank you, Marz.