Mocha Buttercream Brownie Bars Food

MOCHA BROWNIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Spray an 8-inch square baking pan with nonstick baking spray.
• For the brownie batter: Place the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Melt the chocolate in the microwave in 30-second increments, being careful not to let it burn. Set it aside to cool slightly.
• In a medium mixing bowl, cream the butter and granulated sugar. Beat in the eggs. With the mixer on low speed, drizzle in the melted chocolate. Add the vanilla extract and mix. Add the flour to the bowl and mix just until combined; do not over mix.
• Pour the batter in the prepared baking pan. Spread it to even out the surface. Bake until the center is no longer soft, 40 to 45 minutes. Set the brownies aside to cool completely before icing.
• For the icing: In a large mixing bowl, combine the butter, powdered sugar, cocoa powder, salt and vanilla. Mix until slightly combined, then add 1/2 cup of the coffee. Whip until the icing is light and fluffy. If the icing is overly thick, add 1/4 cup more coffee. It should be very light and fluffy.
• Ice the cooled brownies, spreading the icing on thick. Refrigerate until the icing is firm, and then slice the brownies into squares.

MOCHA FUDGE BROWNIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray an 8-inch square baking pan with cooking spray.
• Microwave the chocolate in a small microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring in between each, until fully melted, 1 to 2 minutes. Set aside.
• Beat the sugar, butter and eggs in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Whisk together the flour, salt and baking powder in a medium bowl. On low speed, slowly add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix until combined. Slowly add the melted chocolate, milk and coffee and mix until fully incorporated. Pour into the prepared baking pan and smooth the top with a rubber spatula.
• Bake until a toothpick comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Let cool completely in the pan, then cut into 16 squares.

BIG SLAB BROWNIE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 26-by-18-by-1-inch baking sheet with nonstick spray and line with parchment paper, leaving a 1-inch overhang over the sides. Spray the parchment with nonstick spray.
• In a large bowl, whisk to combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt; set aside.
• In a stand mixer, beat the butter and sugars together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Reduce the speed to low and beat in the eggs 1 at a time, then the vanilla extract until completely incorporated. Add the flour mixture a cup at a time and beat until combined.
• Remove the bowl from the stand and use a rubber spatula to fold in the chocolate chips and cherries. Press the dough evenly into the prepared pan and bake until cooked through, about 30 minutes. Cool on a rack to room temperature, about 20 minutes.
• Pour the Chocolate Ganache over the brownies and let cool. Cut into 32 rectangle-shaped cookie bars.
• Put the chocolate chips in a medium bowl and set aside. In a small saucepan, heat the heavy cream over medium heat until small bubbles form around the edge of the pan, about 3 minutes. Pour the heavy cream over the chocolate and stir until completely melted and smooth.

MOCHA BUTTERCREAM FOR MOCHA MAJOLICA

Steps:

• In a small saucepan over medium heat, bring sugar and water to a boil. Continue to boil until syrup reaches soft-ball stage, 238 degrees on a candy thermometer.
• Meanwhile, beat egg whites on low speed until foamy. Add cream of tartar, and beat on medium high until stiff but not dry.
• With mixer running, pour syrup into egg whites in a steady stream and beat on high speed until steam is no longer visible, about 3 minutes. Add butter bit by bit. After all the butter has been added, beat for 3 to 5 minutes, until smooth and spreadable. If the icing looks curdled at any point during the beating process, don't panic: keep beating and it will smooth out.
• Melt and cool chocolate. Stir into the beaten buttercream, along with the instant-espresso granules dissolved in hot water.