Best Cooks Illustrated Classic Brownies Recipes

CLASSIC BROWNIES

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 325. You can use a greased brownie pan or make an aluminum sling out of foil in a 9x13 baking pan. If so, grease the foil.
• 2. Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl. Melt the chopped chocolate in a microwave safe bowl at 50% for 2 minutes. Stir the chocolate and add the butter, heating at 30 second intervals until melted. Stir together. Or you could melt them on a double burner.
• 3. Once the chocolate is melted, add the sugar and whisk in well, then the eggs, one at a time. Make sure it is all thoroughly combined. Whisk in the vanilla and then mix in the flour, folding it in with a rubber spatula until smooth. Pour into the baking pan of choice. Sprinkle with nuts. In the 9x13 pan, bake from 30-35 minutes. In a brownie pan, bake about 15 minutes, then start checking. It will probably take at least 20. DO NOT OVER BAKE. Test with a toothpick and it should still have crumbs on it. Not wet batter, but not dry either. Let cool on wire rack in pan for about 2 hours. Remove foil sling from pan. Did you know it is easier to slice brownies with a plastic knife? Or so 'they' say. Mine keep breaking. Ubber strong brownies? Or weak plastic knives?

COOK'S ILLUSTRATED CLASSIC BROWNIES

Steps:

• 1. Adjust oven rack to middle position; heat oven to 325 degrees. Cut 18-inch length foil and fold lengthwise to 8-inch width. Fit foil into length of 13- by 9-inch baking dish, pushing it into corners and up sides of pan; allow excess to overhang pan edges. Cut 14-inch length foil and, if using extra-wide foil, fold lengthwise to 12-inch width; fit into width of baking pan in same manner, perpendicular to first sheet. Spray foil-lined pan with nonstick cooking spray. 3. Whisk to combine flour, salt, and baking powder in medium bowl; set aside. 4. Melt chocolate and butter in large heatproof bowl set over saucepan of almost-simmering water, stirring occasionally, until smooth. (Alternatively, in microwave, heat butter and chocolate in large microwave-safe bowl on high for 45 seconds, then stir and heat for 30 seconds more. Stir again, and, if necessary, repeat in 15-second increments; do not let chocolate burn.) When chocolate mixture is completely smooth, remove bowl from saucepan and gradually whisk in sugar. Add eggs one at time, whisking after each addition until thoroughly combined. Whisk in vanilla. Add flour mixture in three additions, folding with rubber spatula until batter is completely smooth and homogeneous. 5. Transfer batter to prepared pan; using spatula, spread batter into corners of pan and smooth surface. Sprinkle toasted nuts (if using) evenly over batter and bake until toothpick or wooden skewer inserted into center of brownies comes out with few moist crumbs attached, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool on wire rack to room temperature, about 2 hours, then remove brownies from pan by lifting foil overhang. Cut brownies into 2-inch squares and serve. (Store leftovers in airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days.)

CLASSIC BROWNIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°.
• Cut 18" length foil and fold lenghtwise to 8" width.
• Fit foil into 13x9" baking dish.
• Make sure it is in the corners and sides of the baking dish.
• Make sure that the foil hangs over the side.
• Cut a 14 inch length foil, and fit into width of pan, perpendicular to first sheet.
• Make sure the foil hangs over the side.
• Spray foil with cooking spray.
• In a medium bowl, combine flour, salt, and baking powder; set aside.
• Melt chocolate and butter in double broiler, stirring until smooth.
• When chocolate is smooth, remove from heat and gradually whisk in sugar.
• Add eggs one at a time, whisking after each egg.
• Add in vanilla.
• Add 1/3 flour mixture, fold in with rubber spatula.
• Repeat until all flour is used and mix is smooth.
• Pour batter into prepared pan- make sure to spread brownie mix into corners of pan.
• Smooth the surface for even baking.
• If using nuts, sprinkle them on top.
• Cook brownies for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the brownies comes out clean.
• Cool in pan on wire rack for 2 hours.
• Remove brownies from pan by lifting foil over-hang.
• Cut brownies into 2" squares.
• Brownies can can be stored in an airtight container up to 3 days.

COOKS ILLUSTRATED CHEWY BROWNIES

Steps:

• 1. Adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat oven to 350. Make foil sling for 13x9 pan. Spray with cooking spray. 2. Whisk cocoa, espresso powder, and boiling water together in large bowl until smooth. Add unsweetened chocolate and whisk until melted. Whisk in melted butter and oil. (Mixture may look curdled) Add eggs, yolks, and vanilla and continue to whisk until smooth and homogeneous. Whisk in sugar until fully incorporated. Add flour and salt and mix with rubber spatula until combined. Fold in bittersweet pieces. 3. Scrape batter into pan and bake until toothpick inserted comes out with few moist crumbs, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer pan to wire rack and cool 1 1/2 hours. 4. Using foil overhang, life brownies from pan and let cool completely.