Extreme Chocolate Brownies

By Addie

"if your looking for an everyday run-of-the-mill cake-style brownie then pass this by, this is a a moist chewy extreme chocolate bakery-style brownie that takes little time to make and tastes even better the next day, it's everything a good brownie should be! --- I have even made these using half brown sugar and half white sugar, the amount of sugar listed will give you a sweet brownie you may reduce the sugar by 1/4 cup or more if desired or if you have a sweet tooth use amount stated --- add in a couple of tablespoons of coffee-flavored liqueur in place of the vanilla if desired -- according to a reviewer oil may be used in place of the butter successfully --- these brownies freeze very well, they are so simple to make just mix everything by hand, they bake out so rich and sinful! --- see Kittencal's Chocolate Frosting/Icing" By Kittencalskitchen

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup butter or 2/3 cup margarine
• 1 1/2 cups sugar ( reduce to 1-1/4 cups for a less sweeter taste)
• 1/4 cup water
• 4 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided ( 24 ounces)
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 4 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Preparation

Step 1

Set oven to 325 degrees F. Grease a 13 x 9-inch baking pan.

In a heavy saucepan, bring butter, sugar and water to a boil, stirring constantly until the butter is melted and sugar is dissolved (about 3 minutes).

Remove from the heat, with a wooden spoon, stir in 2 cups chocolate chips until melted; cool slightly, beat in vanilla.

In a mixing bowl,whisk eggs, gradually add in the chocolate mixture, beating with a wooden spoon until completely mixed.

Mix together flour, baking soda and salt; add to the egg/chocolate mixture; mix well to combine.

Stir in the remaining chocolate chips. Spread into prepared baking pan. Bake for 35-40 minutes (don't over bake). Cut into squares.

Note: If desired, chopped walnuts may be added.
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REVIEWS: (225)

AMAZING! Kept well sitting out for a couple days, too. Our goto brownie recipe! My only caveat is that the edges cook WELL before the center. I read on here this may be because of the chocolate chips. I will need to try with melting them all, next time, to see if that helps. Keep an eye on 'em in the oven and if anyone has any suggestions for a more even cooking, please let me know. (I DID try to cover them while cooking, but it didn't help.)
Edited to add: I've made these several times since. Here are my thoughts:
1. Don't over cook or cook until they look "done." If you do that, it will end up like a very dry cake with all of your chocolate chips on the bottom somewhat dry and slightly burned.
2. Instead, cook the brownies in a LARGE pan (they really rise from all those eggs!) until they no longer shake like jelly in the middle when you shake the pan. Once it's firm enough not to shake, leave them in another minute or two and then take them out! THEY WILL NOT LOOK DONE! But, once they cool, they will firm up into very fudgy ooey gooey brownies that are absolutely heavenly.

Wow, I can't believe this great brownie!! I thought I had the perfect brownie but I do believe this is at the top of the list. I do not like cake - like brownies but those soft and chewy and this fits the bill. I omitted 1 cut of chocolate chips at the end and added 1 cut walnuts. Very moist and rich! The office ate them before 10:00 a.m. You will think they are not done when you put a toothpick in them for it will come out wet, but they are done and when cool set up perfect. Thanks for this wonderful recipe!

Nothing short of amazing. I have not made one Kittencal recipe that hasn't been great. Have you written a book yet? If so I want to buy it, I'm sure all your classics will be in there!

These were great! I didn't have enough chocolate chips, so I halved the recipe, used an 8x8 baking pan, and reduced the bake time to 30 minutes. I always thought you had to use cocoa powder for brownies, which I never have on hand, so it was nice to know you can use chocolate chips instead. I reduced the sugar like the recipe stated and the brownies were just sweet enough.

Once again, thank you Kittencal for a great recipe. I like this recipe but it did turn out a little "cakey" for me, but it could have been because I substituted two things! I didn't have vanilla, so I used molasses, then I ran out of pure butter so I used butter AND vegetable oil. So, I think if I followed it to a "T" it would be great! However, even with the subbing, they turned out super moist, and delicious. I did cut the sugar, and the choc. chips, because I don't like super sweet stuff.
Next time I will still cut the sugar, but I will use all of the choc. chips, I will also just melt all the chips - as my chips just sank to the bottom, and did not melt. Anyway, I will be making these again, with the right ingredients! But just so you know, this recipe IS very forgiving, and easy to make, and even easier to enjoy!

These were very very good and DH devoured them in 2 days. I gave them 4 stars instead of 5 because we couldn't get the middle to set up properly and I think it might have been because of all of the chocolate chips (added 2nd time). The edges were great. It was a bit too sharply chocolate for me (and I LOVE chocolate), so I might try adding less chips if I make it again.

I made this for a Christmas Eve party, and I *liked* them but didn't *love* them, hence the four stars. The recipe was great and I made it exactly as stated (baked the first batch for 35 mins and the second batch for 32 minutes to try to get them a little more moist) - but they came out more like little chocolate cakes than brownies - which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but just not what I wanted! I guess the four eggs should have been a clue! Anyway, one interesting thing, as a few others have said here, they were about 1000 times better the next day and the day after that - so keep that in mind - much less cakey and much denser and richer. Still, I have always used the RZ recipe for "Whatever Floats Your Boat" brownies (no. 32204) and will stick with that one for thinner, more gooey brownies, but if your prefer a chocolate-cake brownie, then do use this Extreme version - but make it the day before serving for sure. I didn't get any oooh and ahhs on Christmas Eve, but by the end of Christmas day these were all gone!!

I followed the recipe exactly and found these brownies to be more like a cake than brownie texture. They were more sugary than chocolaty.. I just all-around wasn't happy with them. They weren't gross but they weren't what I was looking for. This was the agreement among my group of friends, who were surprised since I usually have the yummiest baked goods to offer them.



Another winner from Kitten! Made three times to get them right (first two were my errors). Third time was the charm! My DH practically passed out from chocolate nirvana. Used coffee in place of the water. The only challenge for me is testing for doneness when there are lots of chips incorporated.I inevitably hit a chip every time I try to test so I never know for sure when they are done! I guessed the last time and they were just a little too wet for my taste, but the boys gobbled them up. Will make again and again. Thanks, Kitten, these are smashing.

Hands down, best brownies ever! What a wonderful recipe, thanks Kittencal!

Excellent brownies! I made them for a Humanities class I am taking, and they may have gotten me an A...

This was by far the best brownie recipe I have ever made. with my many failed attempts ("bitter brownies"), I was proud to say that I made the brownies. a little advise to those who complained of to much sweetness with the extra chocolate chips, you dont need them, I made the brownies without the extra brownies and the tasted fab.
Thanks so much for this recipe!!!!

We enjoyed these brownies. I followed recipe as written. I first gave them four stars because I thought they were a little cakey, but when I gave them to my family they did not agree with me and thought they were fantastic brownies and not cakey, so I changed my review to 5 stars three against one they won out. I cooked them 35 minutes. The edges were fine. I used dark chocolate chips. The taste was very good.

Hubby's verdict : Bestest ever !!

You are the devil in disguise Kittencal for posting this (but I thank you for doing so)!!! These were the best brownies made from scratch that I have ever came across. I think cooking the sugar etc makes all the difference in these fudgy delights. And the next day...even better! The best by far comfort food-stuff-your-face-ruin-your-diet-gain-a-few recipe! ;)

Delicious! I love Kittencal recipes and this one was so moist and fudgy! I did use some peanut butter chips in place of the chocolate ones. Everyone loved these.