Best Cocoa Brownies

Total Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• 10 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs, cold
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup walnut pieces (optional)

Recipe

• 1 position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat the oven to 325°f line the bottom and sides of an 8×8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper or foil, leaving an overhang on two opposite sides.
• 2 combine the butter, sugar, cocoa, and salt in a medium heatproof bowl and set the bowl in a wide skillet of barely simmering water. stir from time to time until the butter is melted and the mixture is smooth and hot enough that you want to remove your finger fairly quickly after dipping it in to test. remove the bowl from the skillet and set aside briefly until the mixture is only warm, not hot. it looks fairly gritty at this point, but don’t fret — it smooths out once the eggs and flour are added. [note, many people who have tried this recipe have found that this step works just fine in the microwave. couldn't test this because we don't have one, but it sounds like it would work.].
• 3 stir in the vanilla with a wooden spoon. add the eggs one at a time, stirring vigorously after each one. when the batter looks thick, shiny, and well blended, add the flour and stir until you cannot see it any longer, then beat vigorously for 40 strokes with the wooden spoon or a rubber spatula. stir in the nuts, if using. spread evenly in the lined pan.
• 4 bake until a toothpick plunged into the center emerges slightly moist with batter. the recipe in the book calls for 20 to 25 minutes but it took me at least 10 minutes longer and i was cursing my oven as i have been suspecting it does not bake accurately at 325. i checked deb's site and she had the same problem so be sure to check these often and get them after they set. let cool completely on a rack. i also took deb's tip and and threw them in the fridge for a while to get them to cut with clean lines.
• 5 lift up the ends of the parchment or foil liner, and transfer the brownies to a cutting board. cut into 16 or 25 squares.