Saturday, March 12, 2011

If It Looks Like a Brownie...



Apparently my post about my dog horking up on the carpet struck a chord out there with the canine population. I had several readers tell me that the same day they read the post their dogs did the same thing. One reader even sent pictures!

What is this? Have I become the blog equivalent of a dog whisperer? Did all those dogs out there think that leaving a mound on the carpet was their best shot at being famous - sort of a reality TV thing for dogs?

Whatever the reason, it is with trepidation that I post today's pictures. Again, it's something delicious that looks like....well... what do you think it looks like? If you've ever spent time on a farm, I'm sure you'll be able to come up with an apt simile.



A friend who knew I have a thing for (obsession with) brownies loaned me a brownie cook book to thumb through. She warned me that the times and temperatures for the recipes could not be trusted implicitly, but the ingredients were always spot on.

I made the Bigger Better Brownie Blobs and my husband hasn't stopped raving about them. They are a brownie in a cookie form, but so much more than that. The big chunks of dark chocolate give a smooth, silky, luscious contrast to the toasted nuts, and the brownie base is the perfect balance between cake and fudge. On their own they're amazing, but if you serve one with a scoop of homemade vanilla ice cream, be prepared to enter a place of mouth happiness rarely experienced. (I would use other descriptors, but that would violate my blog's PG rating.)

Trust me on this. I know what the brownies look like, but they taste phenomenal. Bake them and enjoy. But I refuse to be held responsible for anything you might step in. And if that should occur, please don't send me pictures!

Bigger, Better Brownie Plops Blobs
- adapted from The Brownie Lover's Bible

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup cocoa
4 oz unsweetened chocolate
1-1/4 cup brown sugar
3 eggs
1Tbsp vanilla extract or Kahlua
6 Tbsp all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 lb 70% bittersweet chocolate, chopped in chunks
9 oz toasted walnuts, coarsely chopped

1- Preheat oven to 350 deg. F. Line 3 cookie sheets with parchment paper.

2- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter

3- Whisk the cocoa into the butter. Add the bitter chocolate and whisk until melted and completely smooth.

4- Add the brown sugar and whisk until smooth.

5- Remove from the heat and let cool for 10 minutes.

6- In a small bowl, whisk the eggs until blended.

7- Add to the cooled chocolate mixture and whisk until thick and glossy.

8- Add the vanilla.

9- Mix together the flour, salt and baking powder. Add to the chocolate mixture and mix until smooth.

10- Using a rubber spatula, fold in the bittersweet chocolate chunks, then the nuts. Some of the chocolate will melt, which is okay. It gives the cookies a nice streaky appearance.

11- Using a 3 Tbsp ice cream scoop or 1/4 cup measure, scoop out the batter, 6 cookies per baking sheet.

12- Bake for no longer than 10 minutes. Don't overbake!

13 - Cool on the cookie sheet for about 5 minutes until they have firmed up slightly.

14- Remove with a metal spatula and cool on a wire rack. Store in a tightly sealed container, with parchment paper separating the layers, for up to a week.

Makes about 17

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

You crack me up. These look delicous!

Mindy said...

They look and taste amazing. You are amazing. Plus, you write as well as you cook. Thanks for the note. You made me smile and weep. So thankful the Lord crossed our paths.

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

It doesn't matter what they look like Lynn, I am sure they were amazing.

Paula said...

My first visit here, oh my! Most baking blogs I have to say, don't cause me to laugh out loud but yours did. Can't wait to read more posts (and to try the brownies!)

kickpleat said...

Ooooh, those chocolate plops look amazing! Really :) They'd be great with ice cream, totally.

Elle said...

These do indeed look less pretty than they must taste. Perhaps we could do a fundraiser where these are hidden over a football field and the winner finds them instead of plops. I'd like that better, much better. (You can tell I live in a rural area where we have unusual fundraisers. :)

hobby baker Kelly said...

Aw, anyone with real growing up experience with meadow muffins and organic sundried frisbies knows that these just look like luscious brownie plops! And something that must be tried soon... ♥ Thanks for the chortle. ☺

Barbara said...

Too funny. That's exactly what your brownies look like! But that won't stop anyone from making them...they sound delicious!

Unknown said...

Hahha food that looks like 'that' tends to always taste awesome! Is that weird?

grace said...

i've thrown my fair share of cow patties at my brothers and cousins, but i was never tempted to put them in my mouth. i can't say that about these suckers. :)