Brownies recipe

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Ingredients

• 10 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
• ¾ cup + 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• ½ cup all purpose flour
• 2/3rd cup nuts (pecan/walnut – optional)
   

Instructions

1)     Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat the oven to 325°F. Line the bottom and sides of an 8×8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper or foil, leaving an overhang on two opposite sides. 

2)      Combine the butter, sugar, cocoa, and salt in a medium heatproof bowl and set the bowl above a pan filled with gently boiling water, and stir until smooth and combined.

Alternatively, you can put the bowl in the microwave, removing periodically to stir.

3)     Stir in the vanilla with a wooden spoon. Add the eggs one at a time, stirring vigorously after each one. When the batter looks thick, shiny, and well blended, add the flour and stir until you cannot see it any longer, then beat vigorously for 40 strokes with the wooden spoon or a rubber spatula. Stir in the nuts, if using. Spread evenly in the lined pan.

4)     Bake until a toothpick plunged into the center emerges slightly moist with batter, 20 to 25 minutes or until set. Let cool completely on a rack.