The Perfect Brownies

With a name like that, I certainly couldn't resist making them; but since the unspoken agreement in our home is that my husband and I can't be left alone with chocolate, I restrained until we had company :-)

The brownies courtesy Nic of Baking Sheet finally got made over the weekend. And the verdict? Yep, perfect to the last crumb. All because of the neat trick of popping the brownies into the freezer straight out of the oven. Since the baking process is arrested in this manner, the insides of the brownies retain their gooeyness (new word!) while the tops become crusty. Add to that a rich, chocolate-y taste and you have got yourself the perfect brownie indeed (sorry, can't say that enough!).

To serve I made 'sizzling brownies'; an Indian interpretation of brownie a la mode. This was a very popular dessert in Bombay a couple of years back and probably still is. The brownies were served on sizzling hot tandoor plates (hence the name) with vanilla ice cream on the side and a drizzle of hot chocolate. I made do by microwaving the brownies instead.
Or you can always go with the classic, never fail pairing of milk.

CLASSIC BROWNIES
(makes 16)
8 tbsp unsalted butter (1/2 cup)
4 oz unsweetened chocolate
1 1/4 cups white sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt
2 eggs
1/2 cup all purpose flour
2/3 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped

Preheat oven to 400°F and line an 8-inch square metal baking pan with foil. (I used the aluminium foil pan available in the market).

Chop chocolate coarsely. Melt butter and chocolate in the microwave using low settings (or in a double boiler). Stir until smooth.

Stir in sugar, vanilla and salt. Add eggs one at a time, followed by flour. Stir until well combined.

Add walnuts and mix again. Scrape batter into prepared pan and bake for 22 - 24 minutes.

When brownies are done remove from oven and place immediately in the freezer. If you don't have space in your freezer, make an ice bath instead.

Allow to cool completely (ie. resist temptation to eat!!) then remove pan and cut brownies into squares. (I dusted mine with a little cocoa).