Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Ridiculous Praline Brownies

My friend Shane is a chocolate fiend. I first started working on these brownies last summer as a thank you for some Super Friends support he gave when I really needed it. When he laughed at the original two pounds of chocolate I put in the first version, I decided to see just how ridiculous I could make it. So far I've got nearly three pounds in there - and a couple ideas for a little more. They're stupidly chocolate now though.
Yay stupid!

20 large brownies
Ingredients

· 1 pound salted butter
· 2 lbs semisweet chocolate chips, or semisweet chocolate squares, divided
· 6 ounces unsweetened chocolate
· 6 extra-large eggs
· 3 Tbsp instant coffee powder
· 3 Tbsp real vanilla extract
· 2 1/4 cups sugar
· 2 1/4 cups flour, divided- 2 cups for batter and 1/4 cup in the chips
· 1 Tbsp baking powder
· 1 tsp kosher salt

Praline Topping
2 sticks of butter
2 cups brown sugar
2 cups chopped pecans


Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 13 by 18 by 1 1/2-inch baking dish.

  1. Melt together the butter, 1.5 pounds chocolate chips, and bitter chocolate on top of a double boiler, or in a heavy bottom saucepan over very low heat, stirring constantly until smooth. Cool slightly. Stir together the eggs, instant coffee, vanilla and sugar. Stir in the warm chocolate mixture.
  2. Stir together 2 cups of the flour, baking powder and salt. Add to cooled chocolate mixture. Toss the walnuts and chocolate chips with 1/4 cup flour to coat. Then add to the chocolate batter. Pour into prepared pan.
  3. Bake for about 35 minutes, or until tester just comes out clean. Be careful not to over bake. Don't worry. You'll have nice edges and gooey centers both. Cool thoroughly, refrigerate.
  4. To make the topping, combine butter and brown sugar in a heavy bottomed saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook for about ten minutes, until thick and gooey. Remove from heat and stir in chopped pecans. Allow to cool slightly - but not too much. This will thicken like candy. While still warm and pourable, spread praline mixture over the top of the cooled brownies. Chill, and cut into squares. 


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