Cocoa Brownies

Another great brownie from chocolate master Alice Medrich.

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Serves: 16

Ingredients

• 10  tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 1⁄4 cups sugar
• 3⁄4 cup  unsweetened cocoa powder, plus
• 2  tablespoons  unsweetened cocoa powder (natural or Dutch-process)
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2  cold large eggs
• 1⁄2 cup all-purpose flour
• 2⁄3 cup  chopped walnuts (optional) or 2⁄3 cup pecan pieces (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 325°F Line the bottom and sides of an 8 inch square baking pan with parchment paper or foil, leaving an overhang on two opposite sides.Non stick foil works great here.
2. Melt butter in a medium saucepan.Add cocoa,salt and sugar.Stir well,remove from heat.
3. Stir in vanilla and eggs,one at a time.Add flour and stir for a couple of minutes.
4. Add optional nuts.Spread evenly into pan.
5. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center emerges slightly moist with batter, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool completely on a rack.