Best Baked Brownie

By Addie

The famed Baked brownie. Oprah says it’s one of her favorite things. America’s Test Kitchens says its their favorite brownie. I don’t put much stock in Oprah, but America’s Test Kitchens are pretty much like the bible when it comes to all things kitchen. I check their reviews before any other recipes, and before I buy any kitchen equipment or new ingredients. So, if it’s their favorite brownie, I need to take a serious look. The Baked cookbook has been on my Amazon wish list for what seems like an eternity. After a couple of readers pointed out that the recipe for the pumpkin whoopie pies I posted last week looked like an adaptation from the cookbook, I hit up Barnes & Noble to do some research and add it to my cookbook collection. I could go on about all of the amazing recipes in this book, but for now, let’s focus on these brownies. Because they deserve it. They are now one of my favorite things. And I think I’ll need to hide them from myself.

There is a great explanation in the book about how the Baked brownie recipe came to be, which is a great read. The key is that they don’t want it to be cakey, so they use no leavening agents (no baking powder or baking soda). With 11 ounces of chocolate, additional dark cocoa powder, lots of butter and sugar, and 5 eggs, you don’t need me to tell you that these babies are R-I-C-H. And I say that with every ounce of goodness. This is quite possibly the most perfect brownie. Now, if you like cakey brownies you won’t think so. But if you like honest-to-goodness, rich and dense brownies, you will have found your Eden when you bite into these.

They have a good bit of height given that they don’t have any leavening agents, so they aren’t thin, gooey and smooshed like some brownies (this is a good thing). So they have substance and heft when you bite into them. And they have the ever-elusive and much sought after thin, crackly brownie crust that seems to be the calling card of amazing brownies. Now, not all brownies with a thin crackly crust are amazing brownies. But all amazing brownies have that thin crackly crust. Still with me? Good. Now get thee into the kitchen and make these. Then pour yourself a tall glass of cold milk and enjoy bite after decadent bite.

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons dark unsweetened cocoa powder
• 11 ounces dark chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 1 cup (8 ounces) unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 teaspoon instant espresso powder
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 5 eggs, at room temperature
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preparation

Step 1

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter the sides and bottom of a 9×13-inch glass or light-colored baking pan. Line the pan with parchment paper.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, salt, and cocoa powder together.

3. Put the chocolate, butter and instant espresso powder in a large bowl and set it over a saucepan of simmering water, stirring occasionally, until the chocolate and butter are completely melted and smooth. Turn off the heat, but keep the bowl over the water and add the sugars. Whisk until completely combined, then remove the bowl from the pan. The mixture should be room temperature.

4. Add 3 eggs to the chocolate mixture and whisk until combined. Add the remaining eggs and whisk until combined. Add the vanilla and stir until combined. Do not overbeat the batter at this stage or your brownies will be cakey.

5. Sprinkle the flour mixture over the chocolate mixture. Using a rubber spatula (not a whisk), fold the flour mixture into the chocolate until just a bit of the flour mixture is visible.

6. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake in the center of the oven for 30 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through the baking time, until a toothpick inserted into the center of the brownies comes out with a few moist crumbs sticking to it. Let the brownies cool completely, then lift them out of the pan using the parchment paper. Cut into squares and serve.

7. Store at room temperature in an airtight container or wrap with plastic wrap for up to 3 days.