Brownies

Yesterday we followed a pretty creek, up a narrow canyon, to Pineview reservoir, to a lake we'd never been to before. We spent the day with family, taking rides on their pontoon boat. I wanted to make a homemade treat to share around, so I made brownies. It seemed a safe bet that eveybody could enjoy brownies, but the wildcard was that I wanted to break free from "box" brownie mixes and bake homemade brownies that would be "just right." Not too chocolate-y (like Alton Brown's Cocoa Brownies... which I like), or cake-y (like the recipe on the baking chocolate box - also good).

I went searching for a recipe on All Recipes. Could it be done? One brownie recipe that everybody likes? One recipe to rule them all? Quite possibly. In fact at the time of this blog post 45,310 people on All Recipes had saved the top rated "Best Brownies" recipe. See what you think. (My experience? Everyone including the pickiest eaters liked them.)

Best Brownies
1/2 C butter
1 C sugar
2 eggs
1 t vanilla (I used Mexican Vanilla)
1/3 C unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 C flour
1/4 t salt (kosher salt)
1/4 t baking powder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour an 8 inch square pan. In a large saucepan, melt 1/2 cup butter. Remove from heat, and stir in sugar, eggs, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat in 1/3 cup cocoa, 1/2 cup flour, salt, and baking powder. Spread batter into prepared pan. Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes. Do not overcook. (Baked for 22 minutes as instructed by reviewers. I used an All Edges Brownie pan.)

Recipe Source: All Recipes, Best Brownies by Angie

"Perfectly Chocolate" Chocolate Frosting
1/2 C butter
2/3 C cocoa
3 C powdered sugar
1/3 C milk
1 t vanilla

Melt 1 stick (1/2 cup) butter or margarine; stir in 2/3 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa. Add 3 cups powdered sugar alternately with 1/3 cup milk and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract beating to spreading consistency. About 2 cups frosting. (I cut this recipe in half and there was plenty of frosting.)

Recipe Source: Chocolate Frosting: Hershey's Kitchens