Velvet Brownies with Walnuts
and Chocolate Buttercream

Yield: 48 brownies

Ingredients

Brownie

• 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter
• 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate
• 1 teaspoon instant coffee
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup chopped walnuts

Chocolate Buttercream

• 2/3 cup melted semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/3 cup melted butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Pinch salt

Instructions

Brownie

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a 9 x 13 inch baking pan.
2. In top of double boiler, over hot, not simmering water, stir together butter, chocolate and instant coffee until mixture is blended.
3. Beat eggs with sugar and vanilla extract until mixture is creamy, about 5 minutes.
4. Beat in chocolate mixture until blended. Stir in flour, salt and walnuts until blended.
5. Spread in prepared pan and bake for 22 minutes or until a cake tester inserted in center comes out clean and top looks dry. Allow to cool in pan.
6. When cool, spread top with chocolate Buttercream, which is optional.

Chocolate Buttercream

1. Stir together all ingredients until blended.

Notes

Do not over-bake or brownies will by dry. On the other hand, do not under-bake, or brownies will be pasty.

Chocolate chips, dates, raisins or even grated white chocolate can be added.

The brownie base is truly delicious.