The Chicago Tribune's cookie competition winners were announced in this morning's paper. Many of the recipes look delicious -- a few more recipes to add to my MUST BAKE list including the Uptown Brownie. Looks easy to prepare, assemble, and likely a relatively short set time. I imagine that they'd travel well, too.
Uptown brownies
Preparation time: 35 minutes
Cooking time: 35 minutes
Yield: 70
This rich chocolate brownie from Mary DiCarlo earned an honorable mention.
1 cup flour
3/4 cup Dutch-process cocoa, see note
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups sugar
2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, melted
2 teaspoons vanilla
4 eggs
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts plus 70 walnut halves
2 packages (20 ounces each) chocolate-flavored almond bark, see note
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Sift together flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl; set aside. Beat sugar, butter and vanilla with a mixer on medium-high speed; add eggs, one add flour mixture slowly to creamy mixture. Fold in chopped nuts.
2. Transfer batter to a 13-by-9-inch pan sprayed with cooking spray. Spread mixture over pan, smoothing out the top with a spatula. Bake until puffed and brown, about 35 minutes. Cool completely in pan. Cut 1/2-inch off the edges to create an even edge; discard. Cut into 1-inch squares; set aside.
3. Melt the almond bark in a medium saucepan over low heat. Line a baking sheet with wax paper. Pierce the bottom of a brownie with a fork to attach firmly; dip the brownie into the melted chocolate to coat the top and sides. Lift the brownie out of the chocolate; top with a walnut half. To remove from fork, set bottom edge of brownie onto wax paper, gently pushing on top of the nut while pulling out fork. Let cool on wax paper to harden.
Note: Dutch process cocoa is darker in color with a smooth-er, richer flavor than traditional cocoa. Chocolate-flavored almond bark is sold in supermarket baking sections.
Nutrition information per brownie: 167 calories, 52% of calories from fat, 10 g fat, 6 g saturated fat, 19 mg
