Kids in the Kitchen Wednesday: Frosted Brownies

The Wisconsin Test Kitchen was pretty excited to welcome a new family member last week- Kevin and Rebecca's newest nephew: Chase Allen. He's adorable and we can't wait to spend more time with him in the coming weeks.

One of the traditions we have when friends and family members have babies; is to bring one complete meal a week for four weeks. It's a little thing- but it's one less thing the new parents have to worry about. So, this week we made baked pasta (wait for Monday Meals for that recipe) and some frosted brownies.

Frosted Brownies
Recipe courtesy of www.gonnawantseconds.com

1 1/4 cup flour

1 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoon dark unsweetened cocoa powder

1 bag dark chocolate chips

2 sticks unsalted butter, cut into 1" pieces

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed

5 eggs, at room temperature

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Frosting:

6 tablespoons milk

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

1 1/2 cup white sugar

8 ounces dark chocolate chips

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

 

 Line a 9X13 baking dish with aluminum foil, overhanging the edges 2 inches.  Spray with nonstick cooking spray.

 

 

Whisk together flour, salt and cocoa powder in a small bowl and set aside 

 

 

 Set a medium shatter proof bowl over a pan of just simmering water.  Add chocolate and butter.

Stir occasionally until chocolate and butter are melted and mixture is smooth.  Add both sugars and mix until well combined. Remove bowl from heat.

 

 

Add 3 eggs to the chocolate mixture and mix until just combined. Add the other 2 eggs and vanilla and mix until just combined. Do not overbeat the batter at this stage or your brownies will be cakey.
 

Add the flour mixture to the chocolate mixture and fold just until the mixture is mostly combined with a bit of the flour mixture is visible.

 

 

 Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of brownies comes out with just a few moist crumbs.

When the brownies are just out of the oven make the frosting immediately. Combine the milk, butter and sugar together in a saucepan and bring to a boil; allow the mixture to cook at a rolling boil for 30 seconds then remove from heat. 

Add the chocolate chips and vanilla to the milk mixture and stir until the chips are completely melted. Pour immediately over the just baked, warm brownies.  Allow frosted brownies to cool completely in baking pan before cutting.

 

Take our word for it: these ended up being the gooiest, fudgiest brownies we've ever made. It's a good thing we were giving them as part of a meal; or we would have devoured the whole pan of them ourselves; along with a big gallon of milk. These brownies are so good in fact, you might consider having a baby, just so someone will bring you a pan of them.

Also, as you can see from the pictures, this was a great recipe to make with kids. There was plenty of measuring, pouring, and stirring for our smallest sous chef to help with. Plus, the look of pride on her face when she delivers these brownies and announces she got to help make them will be epic.

Take our advice and make a batch of these sometime soon- you'll thank us.

Stay Cool,
The Cool Dads Crew