Fudge Aroons Food

THE BEST FUDGY BROWNIES

Steps:

• Arrange a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Spray a 13-by-9-inch baking pan, preferably metal, with nonstick baking spray. Line the pan with parchment paper leaving a 2-inch overhang on the longer sides. Lightly coat with nonstick spray.
• Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat, swirling occasionally, until the butter is a deep golden color, about 5 minutes; the butter will hiss and spit as the whey evaporates so be careful. As the foam subsides the butter will go from a canary yellow color to golden. When it does, take it off the heat. Add the chocolate and cream to the butter and let it sit, stirring occasionally, until the chocolate is melted.
• Sift the flour and cocoa powder through a fine-mesh sieve into a medium bowl. Beat the granulated sugar, brown sugar, salt, vanilla, espresso powder and eggs in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Start on low speed and gradually increase to high speed until the eggs are pale, very thick and fluffy, about 8 minutes (start your timer when you get to high speed). Do not be tempted to skimp on the mix time; this step is key to getting the signature shiny, crackled brownie top. Reduce the speed to low and slowly pour the warm chocolate into the eggs; beat until completely incorporated. Gradually add the dry ingredients and beat until just combined; do not overmix. Use a rubber spatula to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl and fold until the batter is completely combined.
• Scrape the batter into the prepared pan. Bake until the brownies are glossy and just barely firm, and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center registers 205 degrees F, 25 to 35 minutes. Don't let the thermometer touch the bottom of the pan or you will get a much higher reading. (The cook time will be at the higher end of the range if using a glass or ceramic baking dish.)
• Let the brownies cool completely to allow the crumb to set before slicing, about 3 hours.
• Use an offset spatula to loosen the brownies from the sides of the pan. Use the parchment overhang to lift the brownies out of the pan. Remove the parchment and cut into 24 squares.

FUDGE CUPCAKES BY JOANNE FLUKE

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 350°F Position rack in the middle of oven.
• Line a 12-cup muffin pan with double papers. Since this recipe makes 18 cupcakes, you can use an additional 6-cup muffin pan lined with double papers, or you can butter and flour an 8-inch square cake pan or the equivalent.
• Microwave the chocolate, raspberry syrup and 1/4 sugar in a microwave-safe bowl on high for 1 minute. Stir. Microwave again for another minute. At this point, the chocolate will be almost melted, but it will maintain its shape. Stir the mixture until smooth and let cool to lukewarm. (You can also do this in a double boiler on the stove.).
• Measure flour, mix in baking powder and salt, and set aside.
• In an electric mixer (or with a VERY strong arm), beat the butter and 1 1/2 cups sugar until light and fluffy. (About 3 minutes with a mixer--an additional 2 minutes if you're doing it by hand.) Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition to make sure they're thoroughly incorporated.
• Add approximately a third of the flour mixture and a third of the milk. (You don't have to be exact--adding the flour and milk in increments makes the batter smoother.) When that's all mixed in, add another third of the flour and another third of the milk. Thwn that's incorporated, add the remainder of the flour and the remainder of the milk. Mix thoroughly.
• Test your chocolate mixture to make sure it's cool enough to add. (You don't want to cook the eggs!) If it's fairly warm to the touch but not so hot you have to pull you hand away, you can add it at this point. Stir thoroughly and you're done.
• Let the batter rest for five minutes. Then stir it again by hand and fill each cupcake paper three-quarters full. If you decided to use the 8-inch cake pan instead of the 6-cup muffin tin, fill it with the remining batter.
• Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes. The 8-inch cake should bake an additional 5 minutes.
• Fudge Frosting -
• 18 cupcake, or 12 cupcakes and 1 small cake, cooled to room temperature and ready to frost.
• 2 cups chocolate chips (12-ounce package).
• 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk.
• If you use a double-boiler for this frosting, it's foolproof. You can also make it in a heavy saucepan over low to medium heat on the stovetop, but you'll have to stir it constantly with a spatula to keep it from scorching.
• Fill the bottom; part of the double boiler with water. Make sure it doesn't touch the underside ot the top.
• Put the chocolate chips in the top of the double-boiler, set it over the bottom, and place the double boiler on the stovetop at medium heat. Stir occasionall ntil the chocolate chips are melted.
• Stir in the can of sweetened condensed milk and cook approximately two minutes, stirring constantly, until the frosting is shiny and of spreading consistency.
• Spread on cupcakes, making sure to fill in the "frosting pocked.".
• Give the frosting pan to your favorite person to scrape.
• These cupcakes are even better if you cool them, cover them and let ehem sit for several hours before frosting them.

FUDGE-AROONS

Steps:

• Do not preheat oven, this dough has to chill before baking.
• Put the cup of chocolate chips and the cup of butter in a 4-cup bowl and microwave on high for 2 minutes. Stir until smooth, let mixture cool.
• Combine sugars and add vanilla, salt, and baking soda. Mix in 2 beaten eggs.
• Check chocolate and butter mixture. If it's cool enough to touch, add it to the sugar mixture and stir thoroughly.
• Add flour in 1/2 cup increments, stirring after each addition.
• Cover the bowl and refrigerate it. It must chill for at least an hour. (Overnight is fine too).
• Coconut filling must also chill, mix it up now.
• In a food processor with the steel blade, combine coconut, sugar and flour. Pulse several times so the coconut flakes are no longer than 1/4 inch.
• Cut butter into 4 pieces and add to the bowl. Pulse again until mixture looks like coarse meal.
• Add beaten eggs and pulse until incorporated.
• (If you don't have a food processor it's just a little messier with the coconut flakes longer. Just add all the ingredients but the butter in a bowl and stir. Then melt the butter and mix in.).
• Cover and chill coconut for at least 1 hour. (overnight is fine too).
• When you're ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350, rack in the middle position.
• Form balls of chocolate dough, 1" in diameter with your hands. Place them on a greased cookie sheet, 12 to a sheet. Press down with the heel of your hand.
• Form balls of coconut just smaller than the chocolate balls. place on top of each flattened chocolate ball, then flatten the coconut.
• Make 12 more chocolate balls, same size as the first ones, and put them on top of the coconut. Press down lightly to make little sandwiches.
• Bake at 350 for 9-11 minutes. Let the cookies cool on the sheet for at least 2 minutes.
• When they're cool enough to remove, use a spatula to move them to a wire rack to finish cooling.
• If you have coconut mixture left over, form balls, 12 to a sheet and put a milk chocolate chip on each ball, pressing down slightly. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.

CLASSIC FUDGE

Steps:

• Butter and line a 20cm square cake tin with baking parchment. Put the butter, condensed milk, sugar and milk in a large saucepan over a low heat. Stir continuously until the sugar dissolves.
• Increase the heat and bring to the boil. Bubble for 10 mins, stirring all the time until the mixture reaches 115C on a sugar or probe thermometer. Remove from the heat and leave to cool to 110C. Add the vanilla, then beat in a stand mixer or with an electric hand whisk until it cools to 60C. This will help break up any large sugar crystals. The fudge should be thick and matte-looking.
• Spoon the fudge into the prepared tin and press down with a spoon to smooth the surface. Leave to set, then cut into squares. Will keep for up to three weeks in an airtight container.