midnight black cocoa brownies

Midnight Black Cocoa Brownies
Makes 16 2-inch squares

Adapted from Bon Appetit

10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) butter, melted
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup black onyx cocoa powder (or you can substitute unsweetened cocoa powder if this is too crazy)
1/3 cup + 1 tablespoon flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons water
2 eggs, chilled

Preheat the oven to 325. Line a 8×8 pan with parchment, and butter the paper.

In a medium bowl whisk together the sugar, cocoa powders, flour and salt. Add the melted butter and using a wooden spoon, stir until combined. Then add the vanilla and the water and stir until throughly mixed. Add the eggs one at a time, beating vigorously after each addition and then continue to stir until the batter is smooth and shiny – really get your arm work out in and beat the batter well!

Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 35-40 minutes or until a tester comes out mostly clean with just a few crumbs attached. Cool completely (or chill the brownies in the fridge for several hours to make extra clean cuts) and slice into squares.

 

Bonus! Gift idea alert!

To make Midnight Black Cocoa Brownie Mix combine the sugar, cocoa powders, flour and salt in a bowl then spoon into a fancy-pants gift bag. Want warm brownies? Just add butter, eggs, vanilla and water! Include a note with the following directions:

Preheat the oven to 325 and line a 8×8 pan with parchment and butter the paper. Pour brownie mix into a medium bowl. Add 10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) of melted butter and using a wooden spoon, stir until combined. Then add 1 teaspoon of vanilla and 2 tablespoons of water and stir until throughly mixed. Add two chilled eggs, one at a time, beating vigorously after each addition and then continue to stir until the batter is smooth and shiny. Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 35-40 minutes or until a tester comes out mostly clean with just a few crumbs attached.

You know what you just did? Rocked the whole holiday gift-giving situation big time!