Chewy Brownies

I've never baked brownies from the box mix. Apparently, these brownies which I bake from scratch are supposed to taste very close to the ones baked using the box mix. They are dark, dense, fudgy, chewy & have strong chocolate flavour, exactly how a fudge brownies should be. Love them! 

Chewy Brownies
(I copied & pasted the recipe from  Brown Eyed Baker & the changes that I made are in red.)

Ingredients:

1/3 cup Dutch-processed cocoa - I used Valrhona.

1½ teaspoons instant espresso (optional)- I added.

½ cup plus 2 Tablespoons boiling water
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped
4 tablespoons (½ stick) unsalted butter, melted - about 2 ounces or 60g

½ cup plus 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
2 large eggs
2 large egg yolks
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2½ cups (17½ ounces) sugar
1¾ cups (8¾ ounces) all-purpose flour
¾ teaspoon salt
6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, cut into ½-inch pieces- I used Valrhona 55% chocolate buttons.

Directions:

1. Adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with foil, leaving about a one-inch overhang on all sides (I used a 10x10-inch pan). Spray with non-stick cooking spray (I greased it with butter).

2. Whisk cocoa, espresso powder, and boiling water together in large bowl until smooth. Add unsweetened chocolate and whisk until chocolate is melted. Whisk in melted butter and oil. (Mixture may look curdled.) Add eggs, yolks, and vanilla and continue to whisk until smooth and homogeneous. Whisk in sugar until fully incorporated. Add flour and salt and mix with rubber spatula until combined. Fold in bittersweet chocolate pieces.

3. Scrape batter into prepared pan and bake until toothpick inserted halfway between edge and center comes out with just a few moist crumbs attached, 30 to 35 minutes (I baked mine for 50 minutes.). Transfer pan to wire rack and cool 1½ hours.

4. Using foil overhang, lift brownies from pan. Return brownies to wire rack and let cool completely, about 1 hour. Cut into 2-inch squares and serve. Brownies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.

Recipe from Cook's Illustrated, March & April 2010.

Source: Brown Eyed Baker.

I'm linking this post to the Little Thumbs Up (February 2015) - Cocoa event organised by Zoe of Bake for Happy Kids & Doreen of my little favourite DIY & hosted by Grace of Life can be Simple.