It’s not often that I make brownies with no additions. No nuts, peanut butter, coconut… you get the picture. However, plain brownies are Quinn’s favorite. I hesitate to call these “plain.” They are far too good for such a description.
This recipe comes from Martha Stewart’s Cookies, a recent addition to my cookbook library. It’s from the editors of Martha Stewart Living, and includes some of their best cookie recipes. They claim these brownies to be one of their most popular recipes. After trying them, I can understand why that is.
These brownies are packed with two kinds of chocolate - semisweet chocolate and cocoa powder. When something is all about chocolate, I like to break out the good stuff. For the semisweet chocolate, I used Guittard’s semisweet chocolate wafers. The Dutch-process cocoa I used is from Schokinag. I ordered a huge container of that cocoa from King Arthur Flour’s store, but apparently they no longer stock it. So, if anyone can recommend a good alternative, I’d be forever thankful.
So, back to the brownies. They have a light texture as opposed to the dense and compact variety. With all that chocolate, they are quite rich, although we didn’t find them overwhelming. It’s definitely one for all of you chocolate addicts to try.
34 responses so far ↓
1 RecipeGirl // Apr 10, 2008 at 8:23 pm
They look like quite a good brownie. Can’t really go wrong with a MS recipe. I really need to pick up that book sometime soon!
2 amanda // Apr 10, 2008 at 9:57 pm
sometimes all you need is a good ole chunk of brownie without any additions. you just want a nice big bite of pure unadulterated chocolate. that picture is mighty enticing too!
3 Holly // Apr 10, 2008 at 10:00 pm
These look great! As for the cocoa question, I just posted a double chocolate clafoutis recipe and I happened to put a link in it to my favorite cocoa that I found last year. It is a dutch process by a division of Callebaut. 100% Extra Brut Cocoa. It is very dark with a reddish tint. It tastes awesome every time I use it and I love the deep color. Anyway, you could google that name or just go to my blog for one of the links. I buy mine locally at a restaurant supply store that stocks it. Good luck!
4 Morgana // Apr 11, 2008 at 12:23 am
What can I say? I’m just hungry…. I want brownies and I want them now!!
Thank you very much for sharing. I’m a fan of “bake or brake”. I don’t understand english completely well because it’s not my language but recipes are easy to read and make and your photos are great. (A so close approach to the brownie is… wow, amazing)
Kisses from Spain.
5 Alex // Apr 11, 2008 at 12:25 am
It’s not that chocolates are a substitute for love. Love is a substitute for chocolate. Chocolate is, let’s face it, far more reliable than a man.
“I love chocolate. Have you ever seen a chocolate fountain? It is
wonderful! Check this out..”
http://www.sarahs-sweet-fountains.co.uk
6 Aran // Apr 11, 2008 at 3:14 am
I bet these are good. .. The photos are amazing! I bought this book too but I haven’t made anything from it yet but I love the photography and food styling. The wedding cakes book is also stunning. and in regards to cocoa powder…I love valrhona cocoa powder. It is the best I have ever tried.
7 Elle // Apr 11, 2008 at 6:34 am
Ooooh…my eyes just bugged out of my head when I saw that pic! You know, like the wolves in the old cartoons when they see a pretty girl? hehehe.
Those look perfect.
8 Cindy // Apr 11, 2008 at 6:48 am
I have to agree with Quinn. A plain ole brownie is one of my fave’s, too. These look wonderful!
9 jennifer // Apr 11, 2008 at 9:37 am
RecipeGirl, I think this book is definitely worth it. I’ve got several recipes marked to try.
Thanks, Amanda! Yes, sometimes only chocolate will do.
Holly, thanks for the cocoa recommendation. I’ll be on the lookout for it.
Morgana, thanks so much for visiting! I suppose food is a universal language.
Alex, that’s certainly an interesting theory.
Aran, I’ve looked at that cocoa powder before. Thanks for the recommendation!
Elle, I know exactly what you mean! Thanks!
Thanks, Cindy!
10 Indigo // Apr 11, 2008 at 11:57 am
Have I ever mentioned that I want to marry you? Because I do. Many, many times over. Or perhaps you could adopt me? I could be your pet, even. I’m completely house-trained, and can fetch slippers for you, or, you know, spatulas.
Just think about it.
11 Anna // Apr 11, 2008 at 1:15 pm
I guess yesterday was a brownie kind of day.
12 Patricia Scarpin // Apr 11, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Jen, I want to bake something for a friend and have been thinking of what to bake. I think I’ve just made up my mind!
13 Hillary // Apr 11, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Oh dear…I’ve made and seen some good brownies before but THESE. LOOK. AMAZING!!!
14 jennifer // Apr 11, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Indigo, I’ll certainly take all of that into consideration.
Anna, I guess it was. Great minds, right?
Patricia, I hope you and your friend like the brownies!
Hillary, thanks so much! They are really quite good.
15 Sarah // Apr 11, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Oh… I haven’t made brownies in a while. Yours look delicious! So crispy on top. Hope mine will still taste ok without any of that premium chocolate!
I love fancy chocolate, but all I have right now is plain ol’.
16 Katie // Apr 12, 2008 at 1:22 am
…drooling! These look yummy and the perfect mix of fudgey and squishy.
17 jennifer // Apr 12, 2008 at 10:40 am
Sarah, I’m sure they’ll still be delicious with whatever chocolate you have. I think I’m a bit obsessed with all these premium chocolates!
Thanks, Katie! A very apt description.
18 Cafe Johnsonia // Apr 12, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Those are the most perfect brownies I have ever seen! Gorgeous! I’m going to try these out as soon as I can. I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect brownie, and I am thinking this is it!
19 Bakerella // Apr 12, 2008 at 11:15 pm
okay, so these are now added to my list of must trys. Besides, I’m also a fan of the just plain brownie. Actually, I think I should just be your taste tester.
20 Bakerella // Apr 12, 2008 at 11:17 pm
Oh … you need to change your tagline, too. You’re no amateur.
21 Joanna in the kitchen // Apr 13, 2008 at 4:34 am
what a torture is to look at your brownie. It looks fantastic.
22 Ashley // Apr 13, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Ahh those look so good. The perfect chocolate fix. I wanted to get Martha’s new cookie book but I have some of her Christmas cookie magazines that have a lot of those recipes.
23 Sandie (Inn Cuisine) // Apr 14, 2008 at 7:37 am
Is Martha Stewart up to it again? Wasn’t it a Martha Stewart recipe you shared last that I went crazy for–a combination brownie/cookie? I believe it was the Outrageous Chocolate Cookie recipe, and now double chocolate brownies?! How much more can I bake before I have to break out “the Bean” to help work it all off?
24 Gigi // Apr 14, 2008 at 12:53 pm
I love a good brownie with a cold glass of milk. This sounds like that kind of brownie. …mmm!
25 Sophie // Apr 14, 2008 at 7:13 pm
I love how rich and almost gooey/creamy these brownies look! This is a great picture, it definitely captures what a classic brownie should look like. I would’ve taken a bite out of it before photographing it too, by the way! Definitely adds to the yumminess :).
26 Kevin // Apr 14, 2008 at 7:28 pm
Those brownies look nice and moist and dense and good!
27 Sathya // Apr 14, 2008 at 11:01 pm
Yep, thats me! Will be trying most defintely!
28 Stacie // Apr 15, 2008 at 9:14 am
Those brownies look divine! Wish I could take a bite of my computer screen right now
29 jennifer // Apr 15, 2008 at 10:13 am
Cafe Johnsonia, thanks! I hope you like them.
Bakerella, I appreciate the compliment. Might I remind you that *you* are the one who appeared on Martha’s show.
Joanna, I certainly don’t mean to torture you! Chocolate is love!!!
Ashley, I think most of that book’s recipes are recycled from other Martha sources, but I like having them all in one place.
Sandie, those cookies were also from Martha. She knows her chocolate!
Gigi, you might be on to something!
Thanks, Sophie! Taking that bite was purely for artistic purposes. Sure, it was.
Thanks, Kevin! They were indeed all of those things.
Sathya, I hope you like them! Let me know what you think.
Thanks, Stacie! Definitely one of my favorite all-chocolate brownies.
30 Laura // Apr 16, 2008 at 10:30 am
I tried making these today - taste was out of this world, texture awesome - but I found that mine turned out a little thinner. I love a thick brownie. Do you think it safe to double the recipe or is that messing with perfection? Love the website!
31 Laura // Apr 16, 2008 at 10:42 am
So I tried out the recipe today…the taste is out of the world, texture is awesome but mine turned out a little thin. I love a thick brownie. Would doubling the recipe be messing with perfection. I am a big fan of the site.
32 jennifer // Apr 16, 2008 at 11:27 am
Laura, did you use a different size pan? I’m not sure why yours would have been thin. I think doubling the recipe would be fine, but you’d definitely have to use a different size pan. Maybe an 8″x 11″ if not a 9″x13″.
33 TBC // Apr 22, 2008 at 3:48 pm
OMG! That looks so moist and decadent!
I’m a certified chocoholic and can never get enough of chocolate.
34 jennifer // Apr 22, 2008 at 5:41 pm
TBC, thanks! I don’t think getting enough chocolate is conceivable.
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