Frosted Fudge Brownies

There are very few times that I crave sweets, but after stumbling across this recipe in one of the Taste of Home cookbooks that my husband got me, I knew I'd have to make these! This is only the second time that I've made brownies from scratch, but the recipe was very easy and to say that they were "heavenly" is such an understatement--they were very rich and moist! I'm thinking they will be quite delicious tonight for dessert, with a scoop of ice cream!

Frosted Fudge Brownies

1 cup plus 3 tablespoons butter, cubed
3/4 cup baking cocoa
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Frosting:
6 tablespoons butter, softened
2 2/3 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup baking cocoa
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 to 1/3 cup milk (I only used 1/4 cup!)

Directions:

In a saucepan, melt butter. Remove from the heat. Stir in cocoa; cool. In a mixing bowl, beat eggs and sugar. Combien the flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to egg mixture. Stir in vanilla and the cooled chocolate mixture; mix well.

Spread into a greased 13x9x2 inch baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-28 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.

For frosting, in a mixing bowl, cream the butter, confectioners' sugar, cocoa and vanilla. Stir in enough milk to achieve spreading consistency. Spread over brownies. Cut into bars.

Source: Winning Recipes from Taste of Home

Fudgy Brownies

Heidi, from Tried-and-True cooking with Heidi, posted this recipe on her blog at the most perfect time...right before I was having a playdate at my house! I had been trying to come up with some "kid-friendly" foods to make, since between my girlfriend and I, we were going to have a four year old, three year old, (2) 16 month old twins and a 14 month old. I whipped up these brownies in no time and stuck them in the oven right before they arrived--they were quite delicious, but with all of the initial chaos, I somehow missed my timer going off on my oven, so they were in a bit longer than they should have been. This was my first time making homemade chocolate brownies and I will definitely make these again...I may just try to make them before I have a house-full of kids!

Fudgy Brownies

2 cups sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/4 cups flour
2 sticks butter
3 eggs
3/4 cup cocoa powder
1/4 tsp salt

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400. Grease an 8x8 baking dish. Mix sugar and cocoa in a medium bowl. Melt butter and add to sugar/cocoa mixture. Add eggs and vanilla and mix. Add flour and salt; blend until just smooth (don't over mix). Bake 40-50 minutes. You want center to still be a little wet when a toothpick is inserted and pulled out.

Source: Tried-and-True cooking with Heidi