Sunday, February 13, 2011

I Heart Brownies

So I was trying to think of something cheap and easy I could make for A's teachers to say "Happy Valentine's Day" and "Thank you for putting up with our wild kid!" I came across this recipe for Chocolate Glazed Brownies at BettyCrocker.com. Cheap and easy! I like it.

Now, I'm here to tell you that there are some differences in the way that I make these and the way Miss Betty tells you to make them. You read both and decide what's right for you.

Miss Betty will tell you to buy the Betty Crocker Supreme Premium Brownie Mix. You don't need this. What you need is the $.99 special store brand brownie mix. We'll fix it up later so it doesn't taste "store brand-ish" or "mix-ish" at all.

Go ahead and make the brownies like the box tells you to. You will need to add three things: #1- 1 1/2 TSP Vanilla extract (go ahead and use the fake stuff if that's all you've got. But trust me on this: REAL Vanilla is worth it in the long run. If you can find it in the stores, get it because it tastes 100% better than the fake stuff. I got a big bottle of it at Sam's for $9 and no worries: the alcohol cooks out), #2- 1 TSP Almond extract (same here- use the real stuff. It makes a difference), #3- a few handfuls of chocolate chips (be as liberal or as stingy as you want). Mix it all together.

When you're ready to pop it in the oven, get a Jelly Roll pan (its like a cookie sheet with low little edges). Line it with Aluminum foil. Spray some cooking spray on the Aluminum. Spread the batter over it. Cook according to the directions on the back of the box.

When the brownies come out of the oven, let them cool off. I let mine sit overnight. Then use the foil to pull the entire brownie spread out of the jelly roll pan. You should have one gigantic brownie at this point. Get some little cookie cutters and start cutting out shapes. The best part is that you will have to eat the little in between parts that are just to small for a cookie cutter ;)

Once you have all your shapes cut out, get some chocolate icing. Once again, go for cheap store brand $.99 chocolate icing. The only thing you should NOT get? Whipped icing. It's bad news to use as a glaze. It gets all oily and gross when you try to microwave it!

Open the icing and take off ANY FOIL that is still on the container. (Trust me, it's not pretty in the microwave if you leave any on. I know from personal experience. )

Zap it in the microwave for about a minute. When you take it out, pour it into a shallow container (I used a plate with high edges).

Here is another point that Miss Betty and I differ on: She says, "Carefully spoon melted frosting over brownies to glaze, allowing excess to drip down sides". Ahem. Yes, well that's sweet.

I say, take those brownies and dunk them into the warm gooey frosting. Roll them around in it. Get it coated ALL over. Get your fingers really goopy, because then you'll have to lick it off later! When you're finished, put them on a rack to dry. While they're drying, dust them with some cute sprinkles. This is great, because if you're making these with kids they can really help with the gooey frosting part and the sprinkles part.

TA DA! You have tasty chocolate covered heart brownies for V day!



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