Posted on Friday, 9th July 2010 by Grace
Obviously the mad confusion of yesterday has spilt on to today. Hope you enjoy the Raspberry, Blueberry, Cream Cheese and Mascarpone Pound Cakes I shared with you earlier today but I completely forgot to share my other delicious treat with you. Did you think I could let you go a whole weekend without any chocolate? Absolutely not! Brownie Hearts are pure chocolate goodness.
I can’t believe how easy these are to make. This is a perfect recipe to teach a young person who is just starting out in the kitchen and learning to bake. Everything goes into one bowl and half of the recipe utilizes using the microwave.
These are very rich in chocolate flavour just as a brownie should be. I baked my brownies in a 6-cavity heart pan and a 12-cavity mini heart pan that I just purchased but you can bake the brownies in a 9 1/2 by 13-inch pan and use heart shaped cookie cutters to make the hearts.
The left over bits can be rolled into balls and coated in confectioners’ sugar, granulated sugar or cocoa powder. They could also be used to make brownie pops on a stick coated in ganache, three treats using one basic recipe.
This recipe makes about 6 large heart cakes (3 5/8-inch by 3 1/2-inch by 1-inch) and I couldn’t even tell you how many mini hearts I made, they were disappearing faster than I could count.
I decorated my larger hearts first with cocoa powder and then with confectioners’ sugar. Using a fine-mesh sieve I lightly dusted each brownie heart with cocoa powder. I then made my own heart-shaped stencil using plain white paper. I placed a small amount of confectioners’ sugar into a small mesh sieve. I set my stencil directly onto the brownie. Holding the sieve directly over the brownie, I tapped the edge of the sieve gently and distributed an even layer of confectioners’ sugar on the stencil, making sure to coat the complete opening of the stencil. Here’s the tough part, I grasped both sides of the stencil, and ever so gently I lifted it straight up off the brownie. I decided on hearts but get creative and design your own stencils.
I really like this brownie but my favourite is still the Fudgy Chocolate Brownies I shared with you a little while back. I think I will be hard pressed to find a better recipe than that one. I do hope to try Ina Garten’s brownies, my niece Alexis tells me they are phenomenal.
Enjoy!
Brownie Hearts
(from )
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, plus more for cake pan
- 2 1/2 cups packed light-brown sugar
- 6 ounces unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped
- 4 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Confectioners’ sugar, granulated sugar, cocoa powder (optional, for coating bites)
- Preheat oven to 325° F. Butter a 9-by-13-inch cake pan. Cut a piece of parchment paper to fit the bottom, and press it onto the buttered surface of the pan.
- Place butter, brown sugar, and chocolate into a large microwave-safe bowl. Using a wooden spoon, stir to combine ingredients. Microwave on high for 1 minute; stir. If the chocolate is not softened, continue to microwave at 10-second intervals, removing before the chocolate is completely melted.
- Using a wooden spoon, beat in the eggs and vanilla into the melted chocolate mixture. Beat in the flour and salt. Pour into prepared pan, and smooth the top. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out almost clean, 35 to 40 minutes (do not over-bake). Let cool.
- Run a knife around the edge of the pan. Turn the brownie cake onto a baking sheet, and flip over onto a work surface. Cut out the brownies with a 2 1/2-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter. Dust with cocoa if you like. Form the scraps into 1-inch balls, and roll them in coating of your choice.
Tags: after school treat, baking and pastry, brownie hearts, brownie pops, brownie truffles, brownies, chocolate, chocolate brownies, Martha Stewart recipes
Posted in Baking & Pastry, Baking Mise en Place, Pastry Doughs & Batter, Recipes
Comments (17)
Subscribe
July 9th, 2010 at 6:48 pm
How do you stay so slender with all these delicacies constantly staring you in the face?
July 9th, 2010 at 7:24 pm
These are so cute! I will definitely have to try making them sometime.
July 9th, 2010 at 7:27 pm
Hi Grace, I’m going to pass on this recipe to my niece as she has recently discovered a passion for baking, I think she’ll love making these.
July 9th, 2010 at 7:57 pm
Andrew she will have fun with these if she uses the bits for the cake pops, she can coat them in chocolate or candy coating and decorate with sprinkles.
July 9th, 2010 at 7:58 pm
I’m one of the lucky ones that can eat and eat, and I do, and not gain an ounce.
July 10th, 2010 at 11:51 am
My little boy is nearly 5, I think these will be perfect for us to make together.
July 10th, 2010 at 12:13 pm
Ryan if you make the cookie pops, I found it is good to freeze them for a bit before putting in the sticks. I usually stick them in a styrofoam block. After putting sticks in, freeze again before dipping in chocolate or candy melts, making sure neither coating is too hot otherwise they will fall off the stick. I saw these really cute smiley faces. They were dipped in yellow candy melts and them I think they used writing gel to make the face any eyes, so cute.
July 10th, 2010 at 12:34 pm
Hey neighbors (Grace and family).
I’ve been waiting for an opportunity to congratulate you on your new website and amazing mouthwatering recipes; captured beautifully by Liana – WOW – such talent! I’d also like to take this moment to thank you for last night’s Brownie Hearts and fruit filled muffins. Everyone gathered after dinner to enjoy them – it was the quietest moment of the evening. P.S. Thanks also for the firewood – we’re so lucky to call your family our neighbors….
July 10th, 2010 at 12:38 pm
You are most welcome Diane, glad everyone enjoyed. We are lucky as well, now if you could just move over 1 house when Mike & Penny leave we could connect our yards.
July 10th, 2010 at 1:43 pm
These are adorable! I’ve tried Ina’s brownies and they are good, but I think the “Baked” Brownie is to die for! I don’t even like chocolate that much and I couldn’t stop eating them.
July 10th, 2010 at 7:01 pm
These look great. I love the pictures. I am always more likely to try a recipe if there is a picture.
July 10th, 2010 at 7:18 pm
Julia I feel exactly the same way especially when you are making something for the 1st time.
July 11th, 2010 at 11:48 pm
These just look utterly delicious. I love the decor as well. Great pics, great recipe, great site!
July 11th, 2010 at 11:56 pm
Oh, these look delicious! I’m going to point my mom toward your blog. She’s been looking for a great recipe for a dessert to bring to a dinner party this week!
July 12th, 2010 at 12:11 am
Thank you Lisa!
July 12th, 2010 at 12:11 am
Thanks Marly, how’s the road trip, I’m jealous, would love to do that with LIana, would be so much fun.
July 12th, 2010 at 1:36 am
Hmmmm I’m not very good at cooking, but I’ll have to try making these!
Now how to make them secretly…