GOOEY FUDGY BROWNIES

From a Reddit thread

Unbalanced

% Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Step 1

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Line 9x13" pan with foll or parchment paper with overhangs for easy removal.

Step 2

2. Put cocoa powder, chopped chocolate, and espresso powder in a small heat-proof bowl.

Step 3

3. Make brown butter: Melt butter in a light-colored saucepan over medium-low heat. Once foaming and spitting, stir and scrape bottom with a spatula every 10-15 seconds. Grainy white milk solids will begin to appear on the bottom. Continue for 5-10 minutes (go by senses, not time). When foam clears and spitting noises go silent, watch closely: The milk solids will toast in seconds. As soon as the solids turn brown and smell nutty, remove pan from heat so it doesn't burn.

Step 4

4. Immediately pour hot brown butter into prepared bowl, to bloom cocoa and melt chocolate. Stir until smooth. Set aside to cool.

Step 5

5. With a stand or hand mixer, whip sugars, vanilla, and eggs on medium-high until thick, smooth, fluffy, and lightened in color, 2-3 min.

Step 6

6. Reduce speed to low. Slowly pour chocolate-butter mixture into egg foam mixture until incorporated.

Step 7

7. Using a spatula, fold in flour and salt until just incorporated. Fold in additional chocolate if using. Batter will be very thick.

Step 8

8. Scoop and spread batter evenly into prepared pan.

Step 9

9. Bake 25-27 minutes until surface is glossy and just set (not jiggly in center). Do not overbake. They will finish cooking as they cool.

Step 10

10. Let cool at least 30 minutes before removing from pan to slice.

Step 11

NOTES: -Original recipe calls for 4-5 minutes mixing for moist rich brownies and 8-10 for more cakey brownies. I prefer less time than this for fudginess. -White sugar + foaming eggs = fudgy centers with classic glossy, crackly tops. The thicker your egg foam, the glossier/cracklier your top crust. -Brown butter deepens flavor and evaporates excess water in the butter. If you don't want to brown the butter, melt it in a saucepan with the chopped chocolate, stirring until smooth. Pour over cocoa powder and espresso powder. Stir until smooth. -For extra thick brownies, use 8x8" pan. Bake time will be a bit longer.