Salted Fudge Brownies

When I tell you that these salted fudge brownies are the most delicious, chocolately, wonderful brownies you will EVER taste, I am not even close to exaggerating.  Ask Jim.  These are utter perfection.  And the salt?  Oh my freaking goodness.  I’ll say it again – perfection.  The recipe said after cooling the brownies for an hour that I was supposed to put them in the refrigerator for another hour, but there was just no way Claudia and I could patiently wait for these to cool for TWO HOURS without trying them.  3/4 of the brownies are chilling in the fridge right now.  We ate the rest and we don’t regret it one bit.

Here’s the recipe, and I hope you have everything you need so you can go make these right now.  You can thank me later.

– Shell

Recipe:  Salted Fudge Brownies

(from Food and Wine)

1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, cut into pieces

2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped

1/4 c. plus 2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa

2 cups sugar

3 large eggs

1 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

1 cup flour

1/2 tsp. sea salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a 9″ square baking pan with foil.  Butter or spray with cooking spray and set aside.

In a large saucepan, melt the butter with the unsweetened chocolate over very low heat, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat. Whisking them in one at a time until thoroughly incorporated, add the cocoa, sugar, eggs, vanilla and flour. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the surface. Sprinkle the salt evenly over the batter. Using a butter knife, swirl the salt into the batter.

Bake the fudge brownies in the center of the oven for about 35 minutes, until the edge is set but the center is still a bit soft and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out coated with a little of the batter. Let the brownies cool at room temperature in the pan for 1 hour, then refrigerate just until they are firm, about 1 hour. Lift the brownies from the pan and peel off the foil. Cut the brownies into 16 squares. Serve at room temperature.

I’m really excited to say that I’m entering this outstanding recipe in recipegirl’s Super Bowl Smackdown contest.  What’s a party without chocolate??

Wish me luck!