Brownies of Every Sort!

Brownies of every shade!

Brownies are a favorite dessert at the Community LinC meal that I help with. Several people are willing to make a pan to bring. They don't look or taste alike, but they are all good! And the people who come to eat really seem to enjoy this dessert.
So this week I decided to try a different recipe from my regular one which involves more ingredients and time (blog of August 6, 2011). This recipe, from a Taste of Home contributor, was a favorite from the writer's childhood. I like it because it is not only good, but quick and easy. There is only one pan to prep in and clean. It makes a perfect 9-inch x 13-inch pan of brownies ready to take.

Popular meal - Chili, cornbread & brownies

Moist Cake Brownies

Ingredients:
⅔ cup butter
¾ cup baking cocoa
¼ cup vegetable oil
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup chocolate chips (I used milk chocolate chips - the original recipe calls for ⅔ cup semisweet chocolate chips and ½ cup milk chocolate chips)
optional: 1 cup coarsely chopped pecans

Directions:
Melt butter in a large saucepan. Whisk in cocoa and oil until smooth. Cook and stir over low heat until cocoa is blended. Remove from the heat; stir in sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, stirring well after each addition. Stir in vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder and salt; add to cocoa mixture. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.

One Pan - Easy!

Spread into a greased 13-inch x 9-inch x 2-inch baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool, Dust with confectioners' sugar if desired.

Into the oven....

Tip: After the sugar is stirred in, I measure the flour, baking powder and salt while the cocoa/sugar/butter mixture sets. This gives the sugar more time to dissolve and the mixture time to cool a little before the eggs are added. I try to avoid adding eggs to a hot mixture, don't want to cook the eggs before the batter is baked! 

Not a better snack or dessert!