French Chocolate Brownies

Submitted by enigmused

"This was in today's NY Times and they sound amazing. They're described as "soft, light and buttery." Yum, I can't wait to make this!"

 

• Ready In: 1hr 20mins
• Ingredients: 9
• Serves: 6-8

ingredients

• 12 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces, plus
• 1 teaspoon melted butter, for brushing pan
• 1⁄2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1⁄8 teaspoon salt
• 6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, in pieces
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2⁄3 cup lightly toasted walnuts (optional) or 2/3 cup hazelnuts (optional)

directions

1. Place a rack just below center of oven and preheat to 300 degrees.
2. Line an 8-inch-square pan with foil and brush with melted butter.
3. In a bowl, whisk flour and salt together.
4. In top of a double boiler set over barely simmering water, or on low power in a microwave, melt remaining butter and chocolate together. Stir often and remove from heat when a few lumps remain. Stir until smooth.
5. In a mixer, beat eggs and sugar together until thick and pale yellow. Add chocolate mixture and vanilla and mix at low speed until smooth. Add dry ingredients and mix 30 seconds, then finish mixing by hand, adding nuts if using.
6. Pour into prepared pan and bake 50 to 60 minutes, until top is dry.
7. Let cool in pan, then lift out and cut into bars or wrap in foil.