Deadly Brownies from "Baked"

I've been wanting to make these since I bought this book a year or so ago, and because we have all been trying to be super good here with the treats, as in not eating them very often, I resisted making them. I don't know what got into me yesterday, but I decided to throw caution to the wind and make them. I should not however, eaten them so late in the evening, as I think it affected my sleep a bit. Perhaps a tea time treat is better in consuming these, for me anyway.

Ok now for the review and low down on this recipe. At the end of this post, I will give you the recipe for these.
You must use the very best ingredients for these, because I think it makes a huge difference. The "Baked" people sell their brownie mix at Williams Sonoma, for those who may not be able to get Valrhona chocolate. Looking at the picture of them in the book, and on the Williams Sonoma site, I do believe that they turned out exactly like them. I found the espresso powder at Sur La Table. I hunted high and low for it and was so pleased to discover that they carry this one that is pictured. You can use it in frostings and other batters for a little mocha love or to enhance chocolate.
Look at that beautiful dark chocolate melting away. This recipe requires 11 oz. of it and two sticks of butter! Yikes huh?! Does the heart healthy chocolate cancel out the butter? :)
Best vanilla extract of course.
This melted concoction is the butter, chocolate, and sugars. They must sit at room temperature before you add the eggs (5 of them!) and flour/cocoa powder. The tip in the book, if you can read the note in the first picture, is that you will need to use the darkest cocoa powder you can get. I used Valrhona for this as well.
They are really, really good! Now, if anyone wants to come over and help us eat these let me know :) I hope they don't go begging, because I'm not sure I can eat very many of them. I will be at the gym much longer than I really want to if I do!

How many out there love to bake, but can move on, and not eat their baked goods? That is me. I tasted it, had fun making it, but could easily not have anymore.

I give this recipe a huge thumbs up! Here is the recipe. Go out and buy this book though, because it is a winner.

"The Baked Brownie"

1 1/4 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons dark unsweetened cocoa powder

11 oz. dark chocolate (60 to 72% cacao) coarsely chopped

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 1 inch pieces

1 teaspoon instant espresso powder

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

5 large eggs, at room temperature

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter the sides and the bottom of a 9-by 13 inch glass or light colored metal baking pan.

In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, salt and cocoa powder together.

Put the chocolate, butter and instant espresso powder in a large bowl and set it over a saucepan of simmering water, stirring occasionally, until the chocolate and butter are completely melted and smooth. Turn off the heat, but keep the bowl over the water and add the sugars. Whisk until completely combined, then remove the bowl from the pan. The mixture should be room temperature.

Add 3 eggs to the chocolate mixture and whisk until combined. Add the remaining eggs and whisk until combined. Add the vanilla and stir until combined. Do not over beat the batter at this stage or your brownies will be cakey.

Sprinkle the flour mixture over the chocolate mixture. Using a spatula (not a whisk), fold the flour mixture into the chocolate until just a bit of the flour mixture is visible.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake in the center of the oven for 30 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through the baking time. until a toothpick inserted into the center of the brownies comes out with a few moist crumbs sticking to it. Let the brownies cool completely, then cut them into squares and serve.

Tightly covered with plastic wrap, the brownies keep at room temperature for up to three days.

Enjoy people, and let me know if you make these.