Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Cocoa Brownies with Browned Butter and Walnuts (Gluten-Free Version)

Girls (and guys) - I have so many posts I want to do right now - how many posts can a person do in one day? First things first we saw Biutiful last night.  Sigh.  Pause.  Sigh again.

It is, no pun intended, a beautiful film.  I sat glued to the screen completely engrossed in Javier Bardem's incredible portrayal of a father contemplating his final months of life while ultimately coming to grips with his own mortality.  There is so much more I could say, but I think you should see the movie for yourselves.  It left me very still and I spent this morning quietly going about my day letting last night's story sink deep into my bones - like tea steeping just the right amount in order to reach it's fullest flavor.  My cup runneth over.

The Chef (according to him - whew) had a great birthday weekend.  We capped off yesterday and I'll do a post later on or tomorrow, but in the meantime let's go back to Friday's kick off when I made those divine brownies.  Some kind soul gave me a subscription to Bon Appetit and I love it so much that I'm still lingering in February's pages where I found this recipe and modified it to gluten-free.  It's painless and delicious - everything is mixed in the pan the browned butter is melted in, so that yummy flavor permeates the brownies throughout.  Prepare for greatness.

Finished Product 
~consumed within one day - it's okay to admit that, right?~

Cocoa Brownies with Browned Butter and Walnuts
Recipe by Alice Medrich

Ingredients
Nonstick vegetable oil spray
10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 1/4 cups sugar
3/4 cup natural unsweetened cocoa powder (spooned into cup to measure, then leveled)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs chilled
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon unbleached all purpose flour - I used my favorite gluten-free flour blend found in this recipe and they worked out perfectly.
1 cup walnut pieces

Preparation
Position rack in bottom third of oven; preheat to 325 degrees F.  Line 8x8x2-inch metal baking pan with foil, pressing foil firmly against pan sides and leaving 2-inch overhang.  Coat foil with nonstick spray.  Melt butter in medium saucepan over medium heat.  Continue cooking until butter stops foaming and browned bits form at bottom of pan, stirring often, about 5 minutes.  Remove from heat; immediately add sugar, cocoa, 2 teaspoons water, vanilla, and 1/4 teaspoon (generous) salt.  Stir to blend.  Let cool 5 minutes (mixture will still be hot).  Add eggs to hot mixture 1 at a time, beating vigorously to blend after each addition.  When mixture looks thick and shiny, add flour and stir until blended.  Beat vigorously 60 strokes (I didn't keep track just eyeballed it).  Stir in nuts.  Transfer to prepared pan.

Bake brownies until toothpick inserted into center comes out almost clean (with a few moist crumbs attached), about 25 minutes.  Cool in pan on rack.  Using foil overhang, lift brownies from pan.  Cut into 4 strips.  Cut each strip crosswise into 4 brownies.  DO AHEAD Can be made 2 days ahead.  Store in airtight container at room temperature.


They lift out and cut easily. 
No sticking because of the light coat of spray.
And they're soft and chewy with just the right amount of crumb.

If you get a chance, give them a try.  There's only 16 so enough to taste and enjoy without doing too much damage. Ha ha!  And if you haven't read Bon Appetit - pick up a copy at the store next time you're out.  There are so many great recipes to try.  I have to go back to fending for myself now that the restaurant is close to open.  There is no justice in this wicked, wicked world.

64 comments:

Courtney Erin said...

I love brownies! I'm making a shopping list right now to try these bad boys out.

xoxo ~ Courtney
http://sartorialsidelines.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

We got a free subscription to Bon Appetit once. Even I found things in there I wanted to make and that says a lot.
Glad the Chef had a good birthday! Tell him to keep celebrating because today it's officially Birthday Month. That's right. It gets a month.

Bonnie said...

These sound amazing.
I wish I had talent in the kitchen.
But I don't.
Sad face.

http://glamkittenslitterbox.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @GlamKitten88

Julie and Lauren said...

Wow! These look absolutely delicious. I may just stop on my way home to pick up the ingredients. Mmm.

FRANKIE HEARTS FASHION said...

Those look ridiculously yummy....I would do naughty things to get my hands on one of those right now! Need. Chocolate. Now.

Glad the Chef had a good bday!! xo

Jenni Austria Germany said...

i will bribe you to send me these.

this free bird said...

no need to bribe. i wonder how much it would cost. hrmmmm

Closet Fashionista said...

MMMMMM! Those sound and look sooo tasty!!!! :D
http://www.closet-fashionista.com/

My Heart Blogged said...

I don't even know why I try to eat healthy. I could die a happy diabetic death if all I ate was brownies for the rest of my life. They are one of my favorite desserts. I have a lot of favorite desserts though, it's an addiction.
My Heart Blogged

Nicole Marie said...

yum!!

Danielle (elleinadspir) said...

I'm a sucker for a good brownie. Yum!

Lisa Lisa Lisa said...

Carrie, these look incredible. I have a staff member who is allergic to EVERYTHING but I think she can eat these! I'll get to give it a shot and let you know :)

By the way, Pullman has gotten like 12 inches of snow in the past day and a half! Are you sure you don't want to move back??

this free bird said...

oh hell no lisa!! hell to the N.O.!

little luxury list said...

These look freaking divine. I am backing away from the page now...

stylenuggets said...

Amazing post - only problem is I'm craving chocolate now. Got to go find some now!

Daniela said...

those brownies look amazing!! can't wait to see the recap on chefs bday
Yes, the fur is detachable! I'm thinking about doing a studded version as well.

Lisa Griffin said...

my mom got me a subscription to bon appetite and i laughed, and now look forward to it every month! sooo yummy and the pics look good enough to eat!
www.indramaticfashion.com

Tash said...

Biutiful looks so good, i'm a big Javier Bardem fan. Thanks for the recommendation. And how delicious do those brownies look?! Must try this recipe!
Natasha xo

A Bigger Closet said...

Yum! 16 squares of temptation. I'm afraid I'd polish those off in a couple of days. By myself. ;)

Kara Endres said...

Oooh, these look so good.. like real brownies (mine never turn out like they're supposed to). I just made some tonight actually!

Ya, I saw the beiber drawing and thought of you! I do want to see the movie, but I know I'll definitely catch the fever. I saw the e true story and sang those songs for days.. I don't know what another 2 hours will do (especially in 3d)!

this free bird said...

oh bigger closet - you'll polish off these fine friends in one sitting. maybe two. with or without the ice cream!

and kara!- one less lonely girl, one less lonely girl, one less lonely girrrrrl. i can't stop singing it!!

natasha - you will love biutiful. it is a spectacular film that says so much about life. i really enjoyed every second.

LyddieGal said...

Oh brownies! What a divine invention. I'll have to give these a try soon.

Chic on the Cheap

Claire Kiefer said...

1. You seriously took that picture? It looks like it's out of a magazine. And it looks ridiculously good.
2. Once again, I'm amazed that someone as skinny as you regularly posts such decadent recipes! Your genes are golden.
3. I can't trust myself with baked goods in the house. You should've seen me after the valentine's sleepover! Did some damage with some leftover cupcakes. Yikes!

this free bird said...

hells yeah claire. and i took it w/a point and shoot - can you imagine?
oh dear - i've got a dunlop around the waist and could barely zip up my pants before i had cocktails yesterday. that was after wings, jalapeno poppers, fries and before fried goat cheese salad. this morning i had leftover bday cake for bfast. you know - the kind w/creamcheese frosting.

i need an intervention.

Discovery Street said...

the problem with me reading this at this exact moment is that I seriously just looked through my cabinets for chocolate anything...nothing...hmph. I'm about to go to the market...i need brownies.

Sarah said...

These look so decadent and amazing! I'm definitely going to have to give this recipe a try. I just discovered your blog via Bicoastally. Love it!

Collette Osuna said...

OMG...my mouth is watering..I CANT make brownies....ever...they always come out so hard...I really frick them up, bad:(
Yours look great!!!

Nadine2point0 said...

OK these look super yummy - I'll have to pass this on to our aspiring baker daughter :) tx

Anonymous said...

that totally makes my mouth water! looks sooo delish!

<3 megan

TheChambrayCountess said...

Wow, those brownies would make my bday weekend just by themselves! No wonder Chef is happy ;)

Josie said...

Shut up, Carrie. This is so evil. My mouth is watering... My stomach is growling... Aaaaaah. You're trying to kill me. I'd probably leave out the nuts, but these look INSANELY delicious. Can't wait to hear about the fabulousness that was the Chef's birthday!
xo Josie
http://winksmilestyle.blogspot.com

Joyti said...

I haven't seen it yet, but I saw a clip from it, beautifully shot and acted.
As for your brownies, they look incredible. yum.....

Leia said...

These look SCRUMPTIOUS!

Leia

Anonymous said...

So glad the chef had a great bday. I will have to check out that movie, always looking for a great recommendation. Those brownies look like trouble.... I am weak when it comes to brownies! xo

RosaLovesDC said...

Oh I am gonna forward this recipe to my friend Summer who is gluten intolerant.
BTW, loving the last picture.

k said...

happy belated birthday to him!!!!!
That movie sounds brilliant, I think I must see it and I already know that I will love :)

Unknown said...

Holy mother of brownies! Note to self: do not read this blog hungry!!!

Alleen said...

These look amazing, however, I've done so well with NOT eating any sweets until now! I am salivating over these brownies and thinking if I go to Starbuck's I'll have to get something sweet or I just go to the gym and get a smoothie, oh the decisions! xx

Couture Carrie said...

So yummy, darling!
Thanks for the recipe!

Fabulous news! You are the winner of my FashionFlirts.com Giveaway! Just email me your full name and address to carriecalligraphy@gmail.com to claim your prize!

xoxox,
CC

Kelly-Ann Maddox said...

They look ridiculously delicious! Well done, compliments to the chef etc ;)

Dilan D said...

I heard u liked Justi? Here is a drawing of him that I have made! :) check the link;
http://dilaanisme.blogspot.com/2011/02/more-you-know-more-you-realize-you-know.html

hugs!

Marie said...

Yummy!:D Thanks for the recipe and pictures, craving for some now.;D

***** Marie *****
allthingsmarie.com

kelli g. { bug miscellany } said...

i'm glad to hear that movie was so good - i'm ver much wanting to see it. javier bardiem is pretty brilliant. :)

Marcie said...

Again, I wish we were neighbors!! These look a-m-a-z-i-n-g!! You are such a great cook. :) The chef must be proud.

As far as posts, post more than 1 a day if you have ideas! I always love reading throughout the work day.

xo Marcie

Kristen said...

Carrie these look amazing!! I'm starved...

Fé... said...

All these yummy recipes is one of the reasons why I can't have enough of you :p

Valerie said...

Browned butter makes everything SO MUCH BETTER. I've never heard of browned butter brownies, Carrie and they sound (and look) insane. What a great birthday treat! So glad the chef had a good birthday. I can't wait to see all the other festivities.

xo
Valerie

BenchesnChandeliers said...

those look scrumptious!

www.benchesandchandeliers.com

the chirpy bird said...

You had me at brownie, but then you REALLY had me at browned butter. sigh. I've been wanting to try this recipe and now you've convinced me to. Hands down. I love this! no..correction, I lurrrve this.
xx

A Crimson Kiss said...

Hello, heaven! No wonder you two had such a divine weekend-these look delicious! I've been thinking about what my first big baking project to christen our new kitchen should be, and I think I've found it!

Catita said...

thanks for sharing! I will be trying these very soon :)
xoxo
Catita

Unknown said...

You sure know how to make my mouth water!

Annie said...

i can't tell you how much i would love one of these brownies right now... SO much. nice work again! So happy that you guys had such a great bday weekend together :)
p.s. thank you for brightening my morning with your hilarious comment today.. I really needed that! xo

Annabel said...

my mouth literally watered while reading this post YUM. i know what i'm doing tonight!

pepperandchips.blogspot.com

Jennifer Fabulous said...

Omg this recipe just made my WEEK! Thank you. :)

Annie said...

yummy yummy!!

Sophie said...

ahhhhhhh Carrie!! these look sooooooo good! i am so hungry right now, you are killing me haha. plus i really want to see Biutiful! it looks amazing x

drollgirl said...

i want those brownies. right this second. sending over a messenger, and i better get all 16 of them. lol. just kidding. kind of?

and glad your man is happy.

i have mixed feelings about senior bardem. i will see the movie. he is handsome and talented, but i have read some quotes from him that i didn't really care for. then again, he is no charlie sheen. then again (again), i am relieved that nobody is quoting me, as i would be in deep doo-doo if they were.

blah blah blah. sorry. sometimes i prattle on and ON.

Val said...

GET IN MY BELLY!!!

this free bird said...

oh droll. i think javier may or may not be a big fat womanizer who had an affair with someone whose initials are j.r. and i've never really been too hot on him so no biggie here.

that being said - man he played this role in biutiful to a T. it was really something else. i may even go back for another viewing.

*** said...

These brownies look sinfully yummy. I need to try them ASAP.

xoxo

Moosette said...

Oh my YUM! Not a huge sweet fan - but pass me a chocolate brownie everytime! Must.Try.These.Pronto.

Roxy Te said...

mmm you have me craving dessert now!

taylor said...

omg. those look amazing. i love chocolate, but especially in brownies. i think i'll give them a try this weekend.

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