Ingredients

The following ingredients have 4 Servings
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 3 ounces unsweetened chocolate
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 1/2-3 cup powdered sugar (sifted)
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/3 cup Ovaltine (any variety)

Instruction

  • Place a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.  Grease and flour an 8-inch square baking dish and set aside.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.  Set aside.
  • Bring about 2 inches of water to a boil in a medium saucepan.  In a medium, heatproof bowl, add butter and unsweetened chocolate.  Place the bowl over, but not touching, the simmering water and allow to melt.  Stir to incorporate.  Once melted, remove the bowl from the simmering pot.
  • Whisk in brown sugar and granulated sugar.  Whisk in eggs, yolk, and vanilla.
  • Add the flour mixture all at once to the chocolate mixture.  Fold together with a spatula until well incorporated.
  • Fold in the chocolate chips. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 25 to 30 minutes.  Bake until a skewer inserted in the center of the brownie comes out clean.
  • Remove from the oven and cool completely before frosting. Frost with a half recipe of The Best Chocolate Buttercream Frosting (see below) when cooled. Brownies last, well wrapped, at room temperature for up to five days.
  • To make the frosting: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together butter, cocoa powder, and salt.  Mixture will be very thick, but cream for about 3 minutes at medium speed.
  • Turn off the mixer, scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the powdered sugar.  Turn the mixer on low to incorporate 2 and 1/2 cups powdered sugar while adding the milk and vanilla.  As the sugar incorporates, gradually increase the mixer speed to medium-high.  Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl as necessary.  Beat until smooth.
  • In a 1-cup measure, stir together cream and Ovaltine.  Turn the mixer to medium, and pour the cream in a slow and steady stream until the frosting reaches your desires consistency: smooth, creamy, and spreadable.  Add more powdered sugar to adjust consistency.
  • Spread or pipe frosting onto cooled cakes, cupcakes or brownies.