Layered Brownies

Doesn't that look good? It is good. It is really, really good. It's a brownie with a layer of frosting topped with a thin layer of melted chocolate.  Want to make some? Here's how.

First, heat your oven to 300 degrees and line a 9x13 inch pan or a sheet cake pan with parchment paper.

Melt some butter and chocolate in a small sauce pan. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.

Throw some butter, eggs, and salt in a bowl.  You are going to need to beat this for eight minutes. So, you might want to find a helper.

Here is my helper. She only lasted for about two minutes. Then her arm got tired and I had to take over for the remaining six. That may seem like a long time to beat, but trust me. Do it. All of the air you are beating in there will make your brownies exceptionally delicious.

Kendall was getting dressed up for the occasion. She busted out some princess party shoes. See the shoe in her hand? Well, this is what happened with that. First she set it on the floor right about where she is standing now. To brace herself while she lifted her foot into the shoe, she scooted over to reach the handle of the refrigerator. She was proud of herself. She then lifted her foot, glanced to the left, and realized her shoe was further than a legs length away. Poor girl. An ultimate letdown.

She decided to go for the next best shoe-putting-on option. Sitting on the floor was safer. Now we just need to work on getting the shoes on the right foot.

Let's get back to the brownies.

First, pour the cooled chocolate mixture into the batter. Fold it in slowly. Then add some flour and fold that in slowly. Be careful. You don't want to deflate your batter.

Pour your batter into your prepared pan. Gently spread it out.

The recipe said to bake it for 30 minutes. I thought that after 30 minutes, it was still a little too runny for my liking. So I baked it for an additional 15 minutes. You do whatever your little heart desires. It just all depends on how you like your brownies to be: softer or chewier. I prefer a little chewier.

After your brownies are done, cool them completely. This can take about an hour and a half on the counter. I started my brownies a little late in the day and was going to need them for dessert in a few hours, so I tossed them in the fridge for about 30 minutes.

With about 10 or 15 minutes left in your cooling time, start making the middle layer of the brownies.

Melt a stick of butter in a sauce pan. Cook for a few minutes so it starts to brown. Be careful not to burn it by watching it very carefully. I swirl it every minute or so, until it is a golden brown. Remove from the heat. Beat in powdered sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla. Pour the white frosting over your brownie layer and spread out.

Set your brownies aside to cool again. On the counter, this may take about 15 minutes. I stuck mine in the fridge again while I made the final layer of the brownies.

Melt some butter and chocolate chips in a small sauce pan on low, stirring constantly. Once everything is melted, immediately remove from the heat. Pour the chocolate mixture over the frosted brownies. Using an offset spatula or knife, spread it over the top. This layer will be very thin.

Look at that shiny goodness. I put mine back in the fridge to harden. If you wanted to let it sit on the counter, it would take about an hour or two for the glaze to harden. They are easiest to cut when they are at room temperature, but they taste the best when they are cold.

I know you are probably seeing if you have all the ingredients for these goodies so here is the recipe:

Layered Brownies

Brownies

1/2 cup butter (1 stick)

6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips

2 cups sugar

4 large eggs

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 cup flour

1 teaspoon vanilla

Frosting

1/2 cup butter (1 stick)

2 cups powdered sugar

1/4 cup heavy cream

2 teaspoons vanilla

Glaze

3 tablespoons butter

4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips

Step 1: Brownies

Preheat your oven to 300 degrees. Line a 9x13 inch pan or sheet cake pan with parchment paper. Set aside.

Melt the butter and chocolate in a small sauce pan over low heat, stirring the entire time. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.

Meanwhile, beat the sugar, eggs, and salt for 8 minutes.

Gently fold in the chocolate mixture, then the flour and vanilla. Pour the batter into the pan. Bake for 30-45 minutes, depending on how you like your brownies. Cool completely. This will take about an hour and a half on the counter or 30 minutes in the fridge.

Step 2: Frosting

Melt the butter over low heat and heat until golden brown, being cautious not to burn. Remove from the heat. Add the powdered sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla. Frost the brownies. Cool to room temperature, about 15 minutes on the counter.

Step 3: Glaze

Melt the butter and chocolate chips in a small sauce pan on low, stirring constantly. Pour the glaze over the frosted brownies. Spread around. Harden the glaze for an hour on the counter or in the refrigerator if you need them faster.

Step 4: Consume

Cut the brownies. Place in mouth, bite, chew, swallow, repeat. Do this until you are satisfied. Store the remaining brownies in the refrigerator.

These brownies take a while to make, but they are so worth it.  They also taste really good in the morning with a hot cup of coffee. After I fed my children a healthy breakfast, sent Avery off to school, and put Kendall down for a nap, I treated myself to a brownie breakfast. I watched The Real Housewives of Orange County at the same time. Nap time is the right time for Mommy time.