Serious chocolate cravings call for intensely chocolatey treats. These double chocolate brownies definitely fit that bill. The dark, almost black brownies are rich without being too sweet. Espresso sugar gives them a depth of flavor that accentuates the deep, toasty chocolate flavor without making the brownies taste like coffee.
They just might be the best brownies I've ever made. And I've made a lot of brownies.
This recipe calls for baking the brownies in an 8-inch square pan, and produces a moist, cakelike brownie. For thinner (crispier) brownies, use a larger pan.
Double Chocolate Espresso Brownies
2 ounces bittersweet chocolate (60 percent to 70 percent cacao), roughly chopped
4 tablespoons coconut oil
3/4 cup PLUS 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 tablespoons espresso cane sugar (see notes)
1/4 cup half-and-half OR whole milk
2 eggs, well beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla paste or extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup Hershey's Special Dark unsweetened cocoa (see notes)
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8-inch square baking dish with parchment paper.
In a large microwave safe bowl, combine the chocolate and coconut oil. Heat in the microwave in 30-second increments, stirring well between each increment, until melted and smooth, about 11/2 minutes total time.
Add the sugars to the chocolate mixture and stir until smooth. Add the half-and-half, eggs and vanilla and stir until combined.
In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt.
Stir dry ingredients into wet until just combined. Batter will be thick. Spread batter in prepared pan. Bake 20 to 25 minutes.
Cool completely in pan before cutting into squares.
Makes 16 servings.
Notes: Espresso sugar is available at specialty stores including The Spice and Tea Exchange in Bentonville and Dandelion in Little Rock. If you can't find it use all regular sugar plus 1 teaspoon espresso powder.
Hershey's Special Dark is a blend of natural cocoa and Dutch-process. If you can't find it, use whichever kind you prefer.
Nutrition information: Each serving contains approximately 135 calories, 2 g protein, 6 g fat, 20 g carbohydrate (14 g sugar), 77 mg sodium, 23 mg cholesterol and 1 g fiber.
Food on 01/28/2015