Basic Brownies (ATK)

• servings: 16

Ingredients

3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into chunks

1 cup sugar

½ teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

⅔ cup all-purpose flour

Directions

4. Bake until toothpick inserted halfway between edge and center of pan comes out clean, 22 to 27 minutes. Cool brownies on wire rack to room temperature, about 2 hours. Using foil, lift brownies from pan to cutting board. Slide foil out from under brownies and cut brownies into 2-inch squares. (Brownies can be stored in airtight container for several days.)

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Line 8-inch baking dish with foil (see photo on page 5) and coat foil with cooking spray.

2. Melt chocolate and butter in small bowl in microwave or in heatproof bowl set over pan of simmerin water, stirring occasionally sc combine. Cool mixture for several minutes.

3. Whisk sugar, baking powder, salt, eggs, and vanilla together in medium bowl until combined, about 15 seconds. Whisk in chocolate mixture until smooth. Stir in flour until no streaks of flour remain. Scrape batter evenly into prepared pan.

Notes

Knowing When Brownies Are Done The toothpick test is only moderately reliable. If you stick a toothpick in the center of a pan of brownies and it comes out completely free of crumbs or batter, you've probably overcooked the brownies. Try sticking the toothpick halfway between the center and the edges of the pan. Here's where the toothpick should come out clean. When stuck in the center, the toothpick should come out with some moist batter or crumbs. Better to undercook brown- ies than to overcook them. Not only are overcooked brownies dry, but they have less chocolate flavor.

These brownies are moist and packed with chocolate flavor, but they won't crumble when you cut them. In fact, they hold up well enough to pack in a child's lunchbox or bring to a picnic or bake sale. They re pretty good at home, too, with a tall glass of milk. And these sturdy brownies are the perfect base for all kinds of fun variations.