Chocolate-Orange Brownies

By mirelsonp

Finely grated orange peel brightens up these cake-like brownies.

Ingredients

• Nonstick vegetable oil spray
• 1/2 cup boiling water
• 6 tablespoons natural unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 1/4 cups (packed) dark brown sugar
• 3/4 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup pecans, toasted, chopped
• 2 large eggs
• 10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, melted, cooled
• 1 tablespoon finely grated orange peel
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 3t0 degrees. spray 9x9x2-inch metal baking pan with nonstick spray. Whisk 1/2 cup boiling water and cocoa powder in small bowl to blend. Whisk sugar, flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in medium bowl to blend. Stir in pecans. Whisk eggs in large bowl. Add butter, orange peel, and vanilla; whisk to blend. Whisk cocoa mixture into egg mixture. Add flour mixture; stir just to blend. Transfer to prepared pan.

Bake brownies until tester inserted into center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, about 30 minutes. Let cool completely in pan on rack. Cut into 16 squares and serve.