I love brownies. And I'd like to know more about making them. Do you prefer scratch or box mix?
Anyone try the Ghirardelli mix from Costco? They're great.

The very best recipe ever is from the King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion Cookbook. They're called 'On the Fence' brownies. They're cakey and chewy and soooo easy to make. They take just one bowl. I make them all the time and they're really almost as easy as the box mix, but they taste amazing. I'd be interested to hear how people like the Ghirardelli mix because everything Ghirardelli makes is good!

I love the Hershey's triple chocolate mix!! I doctor the heck out of it though. I sub melted butter for the oil and I add cocoa, bitersweet, semisweet & white chocolate chips, princess emulsion, Godiva chocolate liqueur, vanilla & espresso powder. I don't know why I don't just make them from scratch with all the stuff I add LOL!! They are soooo good though.

I found a great recipe in one of those cookbooks that are put out by church members (man, I get the best recipes from these books!). We call them our Triple Chocolate Brownie PLUS ... because it's 5 kinds of chocolate:
1) cocoa in the brownie
2) I add chocolate chips
3) I add some Hershey syrup
4) I cover the top with poured chocolate ganache made with Ghiradelli chocolate
5) Then I drizzle with stripes of white chocolate

One bite and it cures your PMS for a month!

If I'm in a hurry, I like to use the Hershey Brownie Mix that I buy at Sam's club.

Remember that brownies don't have to be square. I baked some in my cupcake pan, dropped a big 'ole spoonful of cherry pie filling on top, then drizzled with melted white chocolate (pic in my photos). Black Forest Brownies!

[quote="indydebi"]

One bite and it cures your PMS for a month!
quote] Laughing... You crack me!

For the Pillsbury box mix I add an extra egg and use milk instead of water. I put them in cupcake papers and make a choc ganach frosting. They are pretty popular.

The King Arthur "The Best Fudge Brownie Recipe Ever" is awesome! I made it a couple of weeks ago, and we darn near died and went to heaven. Except I didn't use King Arthur flour, LOL!

Oops! Meant to post the recipe! http://www.recipezaar.com/King-Arthur-Flour-the-Best-Fudge-Brownie-Ever-215821

mmmmm... yummmmm.... I so want brownies now!

Always from scratch, and always with high quality chocolate, real butter... just top notch ingredients all-around. I'm PASSIONATE about brownies. They are one of my favorite things to eat. I CANNOT STAND cake-y brownies through. If I want cake, I'll eat cake. I want a dense, chewy, fudgy brownie that's smooth and practically melts in your mouth.

I have a few good recipes I can share when I get a chance, but I have one in particular--it's one of my signature recipes--that I don't share with ANYONE. These brownies make your eyes roll back in your head with delight they're so good... and so far they've made me quite a few new customers... these brownies will take me places! lol

I love brownies. I have always made them from scratch. I use the ghirardelli chocolate, too. I always add chocolate chips! They are so easy and most of the time you have all the ingredients on hand. Someone did just give me a brownie mix that has Andes mints in it. I am going to have to try that. I am going to try the King Arthur recipe. It looks yummy!!

Mellee--thanks for posting the recipe. I don't have a decent scratch brownie recipe. When I have time I look forward to trying this

The Lion King is my (and my 16 year olds!) favorite Disney movie! We are the kind who WILL kinda dance thru the mall singing Lion King songs!!

(See what I mean? I posted on the Kerry Cake Challenge that as a kid, I was accused of being a little old lady, and as an old lady, I'm accused of being just a big kid! Here's a good example of why! I dance thru the mall singing Lion King songs! If you're easily embarrassed, stay 10 feet behind me! )

I use two brownie mixes. Mix up the first one and pour into glass baking dish, then lay 2 jumbo-size Symphony bars (the one with almonds and toffee bits) on top of the batter. Then I mix up the second batter and pour that over the top, then bake. Once baked and cut the candy bars remain ooey and gooey in the center. It totally freaking AWESOME!

I have a scratch recipe that has orange marmalade and a bit of cayenne pepper. It is so good! It's chocolatey and it has this kick at the end because of the pepper. I'm at work right now, but when I get home I will type it up and post it!

Gotta HAVE brownies NOW!!!!!!
I love mine slightly under-baked. Keep the great recipes coming! I will try them all.

I've heard of people putting cayenne pepper in brownies but I've never been brave enough to try it. It's really good?

I can't imagine adding pepper to my brownies.

Indydebi, I'm interested in your idea of baking brownies in cupcake pans! Can you tell me how long you bake them? Sounds like it would be sooooooo much easier than cutting them from a big old slab, and plus they would look more polished too. Also, embarrassing question, you put the cherry pie filling on after baking, right? Hee.

I also am totally into the idea of orange marmalade and cayenne in brownies! Mariela, I can't wait to see your recipe!

I love brownies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I always bake em' in cupcake pans... with liners of course!
I have a very yummy creamcheese topping recipe for brownies I will share with you all when I get time to post it.... Oh and one of my favs is brookies.... brownies &chocolate chip cookies

Here it is! Thank God I only work part time ! I love this recipe. For those that are a little concern about the pepper, you can try it with a pinch of pepper, just in case it's too spicy. I think one time I put too much in and they had a spicy after taste. It didn't bother me, but for sure not a lot of people have heard of cayenne pepper in brownies! Hope you like!

This recipe is from the:

Better Homes & Gardens "The Ultimate Cookie Book" pg. 375

Marmalade-nut brownies

1 1/2 c. sugar
1 c butter, melted
3 eggs
1/2 c orange marmalade
1 tsp vanilla
1 c AP flour
3/4 c unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 c semisweet or milk chocolate pieces
1/2 c chopped walnuts, toasted
1/2 tsp shortening

1. Preheat oven to 300 F. Line a 13x9x2 inch baking pan with foil extending the foil over the edges of pan. Grease foil; set aside. In a large bowl stir together sugar and melted butter. Sitr in eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in marmalade and vanilla. Stir in flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, salt, and cayenne pepper until well combined. Sitr in 1/2 cup of chocolate pieces and the nuts.
2. Spread batter evenly in prepared pan. Bake about 30 minutes or until center is set. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Use the foil to lift brownie from pan. Cut brownie into 36 pieces.
3. In a small saucepan heat and stir the remaining 1/2 cup of chocolate pieces and shortening over low heat until smooth. Cool slightly. Drizzle chocolate mixture over brownies. Chill until chocolate is set.

Mariela, that looks awesome! I will have to try it. I love orange and chocolate together, and anything with a spicy twang is OK in my book!

Cookiez says that she uses cupcake pans for brownies too. Why did I never think of that?? It would just make things so much easier! Cookiez, how much do you "glop" into the the cupcake liner? Roughly how long do they take to bake? Thanks!

mariela_ms that seems like a yummy combo! It's just a 1/4 tsp. cayenne, plus the marlalade, can you even taste the spice or does it just enhance the overall flavor (like espresso powder in chocolate cake does)?

rezzgirl- you can taste it! when you bite into them, all you taste is the chocolately goodness, but you will find a spicy kick at the end. You guys made me want to do them now.... lol .