Crunchy Top Fudge Brownies

Crunchy Top Fudge Brownies

Makes 2 dozens

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup good quality cocoa powder (I use a German brand cocoa powder -Heintz, you can use a Dutch-processed cocoa powder… means it is alkalized)
• 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 4 eggs (medium), separated
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups all purpose flour, sifted
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups dark chocolate chips
• *2 cups whole walnuts (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350’F. Line a 9”x13” rectangle baking pan with baking parchment.
2. Melt butter in a medium sauce pan over low heat. When melted, remove from heat and add cocoa powder, mix until smooth.
3. Add brown sugar, salt, vanilla, egg yolks and flour. Set Aside.
4. Using a hand mixer/wire whisk/stand mixer, beat egg whites until frothy. Then slowly add the granulated sugar until meringue gets into a soft peak stage.
5. Fold the meringue mixture into the chocolate mixture. Then mix in the dark chocolate chips and walnuts (optional).
6. Pour into prepared baking pan and bake for 50 minutes to an hour or until when toothpick inserted in the center of the brownie comes out with moist crumbs (not wet brownie batter).
7. Cool in pan for 15 minutes, then lift from the baking pan and cut into 24 square pieces. Cool cut brownies on wire racks.
8. Store in an air tight container. Laid flat and layers separated by parchment paper.

Content and Image by Jeannie Maristela-Gust