Brownies With Walnuts And Dried Fruit Food

CLASSIC FUDGE WALNUT BROWNIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat an 8- or 9-inch square baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
• Combine the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, brown sugar, baking powder and salt in a large mixing bowl. Set aside.
• Place half of the bittersweet chocolate and the milk in a small saucepan and place over LOW heat. Cook and stir for a minute or two and then add the butter. Continue cooking over LOW heat, stirring constantly, until the butter and chocolate have completely melted. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
• Pour the melted chocolate mixture into the flour mixture in the mixing bowl and stir until slightly combined. Add the eggs, remaining bittersweet chocolate, and 1/4 cup of the walnuts (reserve remaining nuts for later) to the flour mixture; stir to combine.
• Pour the batter into prepared baking dish and sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup walnuts.
• Bake until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs clinging, approximately 20 to 22 minutes for 9-inch baking dish or 22 to 26 minutes for a 8-inch baking dish. The edges should seem solid but the center will appear somewhat soft and will continue to set up as the brownies cool. Ovens can vary so I recommend setting your kitchen timer for a couple of minutes shy of the recommended baking times and watching them closely towards the end. Remove from the oven and cool completely in the baking dish before cutting and serving.

WALNUT BROWNIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Spray an 8x8 inch baking pan with baking spray.
• Whisk together melted butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract.
• Whisk in the cocoa powder, flour, salt, and baking powder.
• Gently fold in 3/4 cup of the walnuts, being careful to not over-stir the brownie batter.
• Spread batter evenly into greased baking pan. Place the remaining walnuts evenly on the top of the brownie batter
• Bake for 25 to 30 minutes.

WALNUT CHERRY BROWNIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle. Butter and flour a 13- by 9-inch baking pan.
• Melt butter and chocolate in a 3-qt heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring, until smooth. Remove from heat and cool to lukewarm. Whisk in brown sugar and vanilla. Whisk in eggs 1 at a time.
• Whisk together flour and salt, then whisk into chocolate mixture. Stir in cherries and walnuts.
• Spread in pan. Bake until a pick inserted in center comes out with crumbs, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool completely.

FRUIT-SWEETENED FIG AND WALNUT BROWNIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Oil an 8-by-8-inch baking pan.
• Put the figs and dates in a medium bowl and cover with very hot water until soft, about 5 minutes. Drain and transfer to a food processor; process until very smooth.
• Put the chocolate in a small microwave-safe bowl and heat for 30 second increments, stirring after each, until melted and smooth.
• Whisk together the flour, cocoa, salt and baking soda in a small bowl.
• Add the melted chocolate and oil to the fruit puree and pulse to combine. Add the eggs and vanilla and pulse to combine. Add the flour mixture and pulse until just combined. Then add 1/2 cup of walnuts and pulse until the walnuts are in pieces about the size of peas.
• Transfer the brownie batter to the prepared pan and smooth the top. Break up the remaining 1/4 cup walnuts into small pieces and push into the top of the batter. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out moist with a little bit of batter clinging to it, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool completely in the pan on a rack. Cut into 16 squares. Store at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

FRUITCAKE BROWNIES

Steps:

• For Brownies:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Combine 1 cup butter and semisweet and unsweetened chocolates in heavy medium saucepan. Stir over low heat until chocolates melt and mixture is smooth. Cool to lukewarm.
• Using electric mixer, beat sugar and 3 eggs in large bowl until very thick and pale, about 3 minutes. Stir in chocolate mixture and vanilla extract. Whisk 1 cup flour, baking powder and salt in medium bowl to blend. Stir dry ingredients into chocolate mixture. Mix in walnuts and dried fruits.
• Transfer batter to prepared dish; smooth top. Bake until top cracks and tester inserted into center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, about 35 minutes. Cool in pan on rack.
• For frosting:
• Combine room temperature cream cheese, butter and vanilla extract in processor. Blend until smooth, scraping down sides of bowl occasionally. Add sugar and process to blend. Spread frosting over brownies. Refrigerate until frosting is well chilled, about 2 hours. (Can be prepared 3 days ahead. Cover; keep refrigerated.)
• Cut brownies into squares. Arrange on platter; garnish with walnuts, if desired, and serve.

WALNUT BROWNIES

Steps:

• In a small bowl, cream shortening and cocoa; beat in egg, sugar and vanilla. Combine dry ingredients; gradually add to creamed mixture. Beat on low speed until thoroughly combined. Stir in walnuts. , Pour into a greased 8x4-in. loaf pan. Bake at 350° for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.