Carolyn Braden says "The BEST Brownie Recipe EVER!"

I will never buy boxed brownie mix again.  Seriously.  I made these brownies last year for the first time, then one day in a pinch, I made brownies from a boxed mix.  The boxed mix tasted horrible compared to the "from scratch" brownies.  This recipe is from Southern Living magazine.  I vary the recipe sometimes by putting a cream cheese mix in on the top.  So good too!  See what you can do with it.  Chocolate chips mixed in maybe?  :)

4 (1 oz.) unsweetened chocolate baking squares

3/4 cup butter

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

3 large eggs

1 cup all purpose flour

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/8 tsp. salt

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.   Lightly grease an 8 inch pan for thick brownies or lightly grease a 9x13 inch pan for thinner brownies (9x13 inch is the better option for the cream cheese version).  I use Pam cooking spray for "Baking".

2.  Microwave chocolate squares and butter in a large microwave save bowl at High 1 1/2 to 2 minutes or until melted and smooth, stirring at 30 second intervals.  Whisk in granulated and brown sugars.  Add eggs, 1 at a time, whisking just until blended after each addition.  Whisk in flour, vanilla, and salt.  

3.  Pour mixture into prepared pan.

4.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until wooded pick inserted in center comes out with a few moist crumbs.  (If using the 9x13 inch pan, bake for about 20 minutes, then check on them to see if they are done.  If not, bake for a few more minutes.  Thicker brownies take longer to bake than thinner brownies).

Cool, eat, and enjoy!

If you want to try the cream cheese mix in, mix together 8 oz. softened cream cheese (I use the 1/3rd less fat kind), 1/3 cup sugar, 1 egg, and 1/2 tsp. vanilla.  Pour 1/2 of the brownie mixture into your 9x13 inch pan.  Pour the cream cheese mixture on top it.  Then, pour the remaining batter over the cream cheese layer.  Take a knife and swirl it into your batter to make them mix together just a little bit.  I made these for my advanced art students once and they continuously begged me to make them over and over again! 

Here are the brownies with chocolate buttercream icing.

Photo by Carolyn Braden