S'mores Brownies :: A bite of summer fit for a cold winter's day

I still remember biting into the best brownie ever. It wasn't from an expensive bakery or baked by some gourmet chef. I was at a preschool Birthday Party nearly 15 years ago. The brownies were really that good - the perfect mix of fudgy, ooey, gooey and chewy. I had never before (to my knowledge) had a brownie made from scratch. My mother relied on a baker known as Duncan Hines and while Duncan's brownies were good they couldn't hold a candle to these. When I bit into the ones my friend made it was as though my taste buds had been propelled into outer space. I'm not exaggerating. These brownies tasted like the really expensive ones you might buy at a bakery. She told me her secret and I've been honoring it for all these years. Now I'm sharing it with you. I probably ought to publish it in an ebook and charge you an arm and a leg but I'm not going to. I will tell you simply that they're Baker's One Bowl Brownies. Follow the basic recipe (see below) and you can do anything with them. Think of them as your pearl and with them the world is your oyster. Truly! These are a perfect addition to any holiday event, make perfect gifts for teachers and school faculty, and will enhance any cookie swap!

Bakers One Bowl Brownie Recipe:

1 pkg. (4 oz.) BAKER'S Unsweetened Chocolate
3/4 cup butter or margarine (1 1/2 sticks of butter)
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup flour
(1 cup coarsely chopped PLANTERS Pecans - Optional. I do not add any nuts)

Heat oven to 350°F.

Line 13x9-inch pan with Aluminum Foil or Parchment, with ends of foil extending over sides. Spray foil with cooking spray.

Microwave chocolate and butter in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 min. or until butter is melted. Stir until chocolate is completely melted. OR

Melt butter and chocolate together in a large pot. Once butter and chocolate have been melted remove from heat and stir in sugar, then eggs and vanilla. Add flour and mix well. Pour into prepared pan. I like this method better as you only have to wash the pan, not the mixing bowl and the microwave bowl.

Bake 30 to 35 min. or until toothpick inserted in center comes out with fudgy crumbs. (Do not overbake.) Cool completely. Use foil handles to remove brownies from pan before cutting to serve.

S'mores Brownies Recipe

1 pkg. (4 oz.) BAKER'S Unsweetened Chocolate
3/4 cup butter or margarine (1 1/2 sticks of butter)
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup flour
1 + cup of mini mashmallows
1 cup of semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup of graham crackers broken into small pieces (about 6-8 squares)

Follow recipe above and once the batter is all mixed and smooth add the marshmallows, chips and graham cracker bits.

Bake for 30 minutes. Let cool 15-20 before cutting.
Remove from the brownie tin by lifting the aluminum foil or parchment paper and place on a cutting board. Using a large knife or pizza cutter cut into desired size.

These brownies are a combination of soft, crispy and chewy. They are delicious!

Food & DrinkJessica Gordon RyanDecember 13, 2016Holiday baking, Gifts from the kitchen, Gifts, Brownies, DessertComment