Best-Ever Brownies from Baking With Julia Child

"Those who are passionate about brownies argue in defense of their favorite type, cakey or fudgey. If you're a cakey fan, go on to another recipe. These are the epitome of soft, dark baked-just-until-barely-set brownies. Their creamy texture makes them seem wildly luxurious and very much a treat to be meted out in small servings (just small enough for a scoop of ice cream and some chocolate sauce). The mixing method is unorthodox for a brownie. Half of an egg-sugar mixture is stirred into the melted chocolate and butter, while the other half is whipped until it thickens and doubles in volume. The lightened eggs are folded into the chocolate with a delicate touch, as are the dry ingredients--tricks that enhance the brownies' lovely texture."

• Ready In: 37 mins
• Serves: 18

Ingredients

• 1 1⁄4 cups  sifted all-purpose flour
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 8  ounces unsalted butter
• 4  ounces  unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 2  ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 2  cups sugar
• 1  teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 4  large eggs, room temperature

Directions

1. Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 350°. I bake them at a lower oven temp of 330°.
2. Sift the flour and salt together; set aside.
3. Melt the butter and chocolate together in a medium saucepan over low heat, stirring frequently and keeping a watchful eye on the pot to make certain the chocolate doesn't scorch (Alternatively, you can melt the ingredients in the top of a double boiler over, not touching, simmering water.) Add 1 cup of the sugar to the mixture and stir for half a minute, then remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
4. Pour the mixture into a large bowl.
5. Put the remaining 1 cup sugar and the eggs into a bowl and mix or whisk by hand just to combine.
6. Little by little, pour half of the sugar and eggs into the chocolate mixture, stirring gently but constantly with a rubber spatula so that the eggs don't set from the heat.
7. Fit the whisk attachment to the mixer and whip the remaining sugar and eggs until they are thick, pale, and doubled in volume, about 3 minutes.
8. Using the rubber spatula, delicately fold the whipped eggs into the chocolate mixture.
9. When the eggs are almost completely incorporated, gently fold in the dry ingredients.
10. Pour and scrape the batter in to an unbuttered 9-inch square pan.
11. Bake the brownies for 22-26 minutes, during which time they will rise a little and the top will turn dark and dry.
12. Cut into the center at about the 22-minute mark to see how the brownies are progressing: they'll be perfect if they're just barely set and still pretty gooey.
13. They're still awfully good on the other side of set, so don't worry if you miss the moment on your first try.
14. Cool the brownies in the pan on a rack.