37. So Good Brownies

From 2009 Southern Living Annual Recipes

(For the record, this is the actual title of the recipe!)

This is my first baking venture NOT using a box mix as a starter. Brownies...from scratch.

Chocolate, butter, sugar, eggs, flour...pure and simple.

I tend to like my brownies a little more cake-like and these were more fudge-like the first day (and very rich)...but once they sat overnight, the consistency became more like cake.

Lining the pan with foil (which came off the brownies very easily) made these a cinch to cut into perfect squares for serving. I dusted mine with a little powdered sugar.

Want to "fancy" these up a bit? Click here for Southern Living's stir-in and topping variations.

4 (1-ounce) unsweetened chocolate baking squares
3/4 cup butter
1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
3 large eggs
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/8 tsp. salt

Microwave chocolate squares and butter in a large bowl on high 2 minutes or until melted and smooth, stirring at 30-second intervals. Whisk in granulated and brown sugars. Add eggs, 1 at a time, whisking just until blended after each addition. Whisk in flour, vanilla, and salt.

Line bottom and sides of an 8-inch pan with aluminum foil, allowing 2-3 inches to extend over sides. Lightly grease foil. Pour mixture into pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 40-44 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out with a few moist crumbs. Cool completely on a wire rack (about 1 hour). Lift brownies from pan, using foil sides as handles. Gently remove foil and cut brownies into 16 squares.