Best Chocolate (and Chewy) Brownies!

So if you have been reading my blog, you know about the last brownies that I cooked (Supernatural Brownies.) Those turned out to be a complete disaster. But I tied up my heart and baked these brownies that I found on a Google search. And let me tell you, I had to get to page 5 on Google to find these brownies. But it was totally worth the search!

It was on a blog called Chew on That. The recipe is wonderfully titled "Best Chocolate Brownies" (recipe here: Recipe.) Most of the ingredients I needed I had already from the last recipe. All I needed to buy was the chocolate chips, baking chocolate, and baking powder. I really was taking a risk with this recipe. I was hurt with the last recipe and I thought that the same result would happen again: store bought tasting brownies.

I was supposed to make them on Saturday but I didn't want them to be too old. So I baked them on a Monday morning, since I was off from the Fourth of July holiday. I melted the chocolate and butter and the chocolate was so bitter! Thank God the recipe called for 2 cups of sugar. I added that and mixed well. Next, I mixed one large egg into the mix until it was fully incorporated. I had to do this 4 times, since I used 4 large eggs. Next came the cup of flour and one teaspoon of baking powder that I fully incorporated. Then I realized that I forgot to add some vanilla extract so instead of adding 2 teaspoons of it, I put 2 tablespoons. Accident but trust me, they still tasted wonderful with no heavy vanilla taste.

I then added a cup of chopped walnuts, since I like my brownies to have the nuts inside of them and mixed it all together one last time. I had my 13x9x2 baking pan already coated and ready to go. The oven was a toasty 325 degrees so I poured the batter into the pan and then sprinkled the top with a cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips. The recipe says to bake them for 45 minutes but I wanted my center to be chewy so I cooked them for 40 minutes.

I was so nervous. I was constantly checking up on them and I noticed that the cracks that were forming would have the chips sink in. When I took them out, they kinda looked funny. Not as pretty as the Supernatural Brownies but hey, who's judging? I finally cut them into bars 8 hours later and let me tell you, it was the best brownie I have tasted in 3 years. I was so happy!

My associate pastor was constantly bugging me to make some more brownies so I was too happy to let him have these. They came out with a pretty crust and the middle was perfectly chewy. They also came out thick so I got full on just one. Plus with the chocolate chips at the top, it makes them gooey. He was happy with these and they have been leaving at a fast pace! I doubt that they will be here tomorrow.

Today's a new day so I think I can down two (although I'm on a diet). I don't want them to go stale like the others! Finally, brownie success!!

Supernatural Brownies by Nick Malgieri

Another recipe that I have baked recently was the Supernatural Brownies by Nick Malgieri. I found this recipe because ever since spring hit, I wanted a chewy, thick brownie. I discovered this recipe on a forum and thought that it would be what I was looking for. The link to the recipe is here: Supernatural Brownies.

I was so excited to try this brownie. The first and last awesome brownie I tasted was some that my boss gave me and it was so chocolately and gooey I could have died peacefully in chocolate heaven. He didn't know the recipe so I was on a quest for the best and chewiest brownie I could find.

I baked these on a Saturday night, and let me tell you it was hot in my house to make these. The batter tasted excellent so I thought that I was on the right track. Even baking them in the oven was great. My house smelled like a chocolate bakery. But I noticed a problem when they were baking: when the top would crack, it looked like the batter beneath it was soft, not firm. I took them out after 45 minutes of baking and I let it rest for the whole night.

Sunday came and I was anxious to eat them. Unfortunately it was Father's Day so I really didn't stay home. When I finally got a chance to cut and eat them, I was highly disappointed. My worst fears came true. It was not chewy at all; they were soft & moist. I gave them more than 12 hours of rest and this is what I get? And to put salt in the wound, they tasted exactly like the Duncan Hines brownies in the frozen food section at Wal-Mart.  I spent all that much money for ingredients and all I got was store tasting soft brownies.

To all the people that reviewed this recipe, shame on you for lying to me! Everyone on the Chowhound website made me believe that this was a chewy & gooey brownie. They were all liars. If they liked brownies from a box but wanted them homemade, then this was a good recipe. But in future, I would just buy a $1.50 box of brownie mix instead of wasting money making this crap by Nick Malgieri.

I'm on a quest for the best chewy & gooey brownie out there. I'm hurt by this setback but I'll find it someday!

Miracle Reviews