Brownies from Scratch

If methods to make brownies from scratch is what you've been looking for, then my guess is that you want good old homemade brownie, sans the use of a brownie mix. I have to say that I second your decision, for boxed brownies mixes just don't stand up to homemade brownies made from scratch. In fact, if you want healthy brownies from scratch, doing it yourself is your best bet, for you can tailor it to your health needs. If you are a novice baker, know that the task at hand is easy, and you will sail through the process of making brownies from scratch. Cocoa powder, butter, vanilla, salt, bittersweet chocolate, and flour are the usual ingredients that you will need to get a hold of, for brownie recipes, before you start. If you want chewy brownies from scratch, adding peanut butter will achieve that affect.

Easy Brownie Recipe

Ingredients

• Soft butter, for greasing the pan
• ½ tsp kosher salt
• Flour, for dusting the buttered pan
• ½ cup flour, sifted
• 4 large eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup sugar, sifted
• 1¼ cups cocoa, sifted
• 1 cup brown sugar, sifted
• 8 ounces melted butter

Directions

Preheat the oven to 300 ºF. Grease an 8'' square pan with butter and then dust it with flour. Whisk the eggs until fluffy and light yellow. Stir in both the sugars and then add the remaining ingredients. Blend till you have a smooth batter. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and bake for 45 minutes. Slip a toothpick/knife into it, and check if it comes out dry. If it does, take the pan out of the oven and allow it to cool. Once it is cool, cut it into squares and serve or store.

Brownies with Chocolate Chips

Ingredients (Makes 16)

• 8 tbsp (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into pieces, plus more for pan
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
• 1¼ cups sugar
• ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 8 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, chopped
• ½ tsp baking powder
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• ½ tsp salt

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 ºF. Take a 9'' square baking pan and line the sides and bottom with parchment paper, while allowing 2'' of the paper to stick out above the sides. Coat the paper with butter. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl. Put the chocolate and butter into a large heat-proof bowl, and balance it over a saucepan of simmering water. In about 2 - 3 minutes, the chocolate and butter would have melted and mixed. Add the sugar to it, and then the whisked eggs. Add the fluid contents to the flour mixture and mix. Throw in the chocolate chips, and pour into the prepared pan. Bake for about 50 to 60 minutes and slip a toothpick/knife into it, and check if it comes out with a few moist crumbs attached. Take out of oven and cool for 30 minutes. Remove brownies by lifting the paper hanging out of the pan. Cool on rack and using a serrated knife, cut into 16 squares.

Peanut Butter Brownies

Ingredients (Makes 16)

• ½ cup peanut butter
• ½ cup chopped salted peanuts
• 4 tbsp butter, softened
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp vanilla
• ⅔ cup flour
• 2 eggs

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 ºF. Coat an 8'' square pan with butter and then dust it with flour. Add the butter to the peanut butter, and mix in a bowl. Whisk till both have blended well. Add the brown sugar and vanilla to them, and continue to stir. Finally add the whisked eggs and stir till you have a smooth batter. In a separate container, combine the flour, baking powder and salt, and sieve twice. Add the first mixture to the powders. Blend until you have a smooth batter. Toss in the peanuts at the end. Pour the batter in the pan, and bake for 25 - 30 minutes. After it is baked, slip a toothpick/knife into it, and check if it comes out with a few moist crumbs attached. If it does, take it out and let it cool. Once completely cool, cut it into squares.

I'm sure these brownies from scratch recipes will turn out delicious results. If you want to indulge yourself, add some vanilla ice cream, or whipped cream to turn it into a wicked dessert!