Chocolate Brownies

Welcome to my latest baking adventure! If you’re a fan of fudgy, rich brownies, you’re going to fall head over heels for this one. These chocolate brownies are packed with intense cocoa flavor, topped with a delicious, nutty brown butter cookie dough that’s filled with Tony’s Chocolonely Littl’ Bits. The cookie dough adds an extra layer of sweetness, making each bite the perfect balance of chewy, fudgy, and crunchy. Trust me, once you try these, you won’t be able to stop at just one!

Method

Preheat the Oven and Prepare the Pan

Start by preheating your oven to 175ºC (350ºF). Prepare a 9×9-inch baking pan by greasing it and lining it with parchment paper. This will help the brownies come out easily once baked.

Brown the Butter for the Cookie Dough

To begin making the cookie dough, take a small pan and melt the butter over medium heat. Stir constantly to ensure the butter doesn’t burn. As the butter melts, keep an eye on it when you start to see brown milk solids at the bottom of the pan, that’s when you know it’s perfectly browned. Once you see this, pour the butter into a big bowl to cool.

Mix the Cookie Dough Ingredients

After the browned butter has cooled, add both the brown sugar and white sugar into the bowl with the butter. Whisk the mixture until the sugars are completely incorporated, and the mixture is smooth. Add the egg and vanilla extract, continuing to whisk until the batter lightens and turns pale. This step is important because it helps create a fluffy, light dough.

Add Dry Ingredients to the Cookie Dough

Now, sift in the flour, baking soda, and salt into the butter and sugar mixture. Mix everything together until just combined. You don’t want to overwork this dough as it could become too tough. After mixing, fold in the Tony’s Chocolonely Littl’ Bits gently. Once everything is combined, set the cookie dough mixture aside while we work on the brownie batter.

Prepare the Brownie Batter

Next, let’s focus on the brownie batter. In a heatproof bowl placed over a shallow pan filled with simmering water, add the unsalted butter and the chopped Tony’s Chocolonely chocolate bar. Stir the mixture until the butter and chocolate melt and combine smoothly. Once melted, sift in the cocoa powder and mix until it’s fully incorporated.

Whisk the Eggs and Sugar for the Brownies

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs and white sugar for at least 4 minutes. Whisking for this long helps dissolve the sugar completely and helps achieve the crinkly top on the brownies. The mixture should turn smooth, slightly pale, and have a slightly thickened consistency. Once that’s done, pour in the melted chocolate mixture and vanilla extract. Mix everything until it’s well combined.

Add the Dry Ingredients to the Brownie Batter

Sift in the flour and salt into the brownie mixture. Gently fold the flour and salt into the batter, taking care not to overmix. You want everything to be just combined. Overmixing could result in a dense and heavy texture instead of the light, fudgy texture you’re aiming for.

Assemble the Brownies

Now it’s time to bring everything together. Pour the brownie batter into your prepared 9×9-inch pan, spreading it out evenly. Next, take spoonfuls of the cookie dough mixture and drop them on top of the brownie batter. Use a spatula to gently spread and swirl the cookie dough mixture over the brownie batter. The swirls will give you that delightful cookie dough topping once baked.

Bake the Brownies

Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes. To check if they’re done, insert a toothpick into the center of the brownies. If it comes out with just a few moist crumbs (not wet batter), they’re done! Keep an eye on the brownies as every oven is different, and you want to avoid overbaking them.

Cool and Slice

Once baked, remove the brownies from the oven and allow them to cool completely in the pan. It’s important to let them cool to room temperature to ensure that they set properly. If you cut them while they’re still warm, they may fall apart. Once they’ve cooled, slice them into squares and enjoy your delicious homemade chocolate brownies with brown butter cookie dough topping!

Necessary Tools

• Oven
• 2 Mixing bowls
• Whisk
• Sifter
• Small pan for browning butter
• 9×9-inch baking pan
• Spatula

Serving Suggestions

These brownies are perfect on their own, but if you’re feeling fancy, try serving them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of caramel sauce for extra indulgence. They also pair wonderfully with a strong cup of coffee or a glass of milk.

Fun Fact

Did you know that Tony’s Chocolonely is on a mission to make all chocolate 100% slave-free? So not only are these brownies delicious, but you’re also supporting a company with a positive impact on the world!

Conclusion

These chocolate brownies with a nutty brown butter cookie dough topping are sure to satisfy any chocolate craving. The richness of the fudgy brownies paired with the crunch and sweetness of the cookie dough makes for a decadent dessert that’s easy to whip up but will impress anyone who tastes it. Happy baking!