Easy Brownies made with cocoa, butter, sugar, eggs, and flour. Simple but classic, these may be the best brownies ever!
Prep Time30 minutesmins
Cook Time25 minutesmins
Total Time55 minutesmins
Servings: 16squares
Calories: 186kcal
Author: Lucy Brewer
Ingredients
10tablespoonsunsalted butter, softened and cut into small pieces
2tablespoonsvegetable oil
1 ¼cupsgranulated sugar
¾cupplus 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
¼teaspoonsalt
½teaspoonvanilla or seeds from vanilla bean
2cold large eggs
½cupall-purpose flour
⅔cupchopped pecans or walnuts, (optional)
Instructions
Position oven rack in lower third of oven and preheat oven to 325. Line bottom and sides of 8x8 inch square baking pan with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray.
Place butter, oil, cocoa, sugar, and salt in a large heatproof bowl and place bowl in a skillet of simmering water. (Remove skillet from the stove first.)
Stir occasionally, until butter is completely melted and mixture is smooth and warm. Remove bowl from skillet.
Stir in vanilla and eggs, one at a time. Stir vigorously after each egg. When batter is well mixed and shiny, add flour and mix well.
Stir for 50-60 strokes with a wooden spoon, scraping down sides of bowl and incorporating all the flour and cocoa. Stir in nuts if using. Spread batter in prepared pan and place on lower oven rack.
Bake for 20-25 minutes until a toothpick comes out with just a little batter. Remove pan and cool completely on a rack, then lift foil out of pan and transfer to cutting board.
Notes
Adapted from Alice Medrich's Cocoa Brownies. http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Best-Cocoa-Brownies-108346