I love Yvette van Boven’s summer salad from her first book, Home Made. I first made it for another By the Book column years ago, and I still make it, regardless of the season. So I had high hopes for her newest book, Home Baked, which contains some of my favorite things: breads, cookies, cakes and beautiful photos and illustrations.
I chose to make her Triple-Chocolate Chunky Brownies, which she declared “by far the most delicious recipe from this book.” The brownie was packed with dark chocolate, white chocolate and cocoa powder, as well as walnuts. It was simple to make and worth the minimal effort, especially when served warm with a melting scoop of ice cream. But most delicious? I have had a better brownie – and I’ve made better, too.
Skill level: Easy. There are some more time-consuming recipes, like in the bread section, but nothing seems too difficult for a home cook.
This book is for: Baked-good addicts
Other recipes to try: Super-Duper Choco Cake with Beets and Hazelnut Filling; Chocolate, Espresso, and Dark Beer Cake with Chocolate-Hazelnut Frosting
Verdict: Check back next week when Home Baked takes on the next challenger.
Triple-Chocolate Chunky Brownies
24 pieces
7 oz. dark chocolate, chopped
3 Tbsp. butter, cubed, plus extra for the pan
½ cup plus 1 Tbsp. packed light brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
½ cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
Pinch of salt
1½ oz. white chocolate, chopped
½ cup walnuts, coarsely chopped
2 eggs beaten
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 7-by-11 inch baking pan and line the bottom with parchment paper that extends over two edges of the pan. Grease the parchment paper, too.
• Melt 3½ oz. of the chocolate with the butter au bain marie. Turn off the heat when it’s nearly completely melted and let stand for a bit while you prepare the rest.
• In a bowl, mix the brown sugar with the vanilla, flour, baking powder, cocoa powder, and salt into an even-colored powder.
• Stir in the remaining dark chocolate, the white chocolate, and the walnuts.
• Pour the beaten eggs into the slightly cooled chocolate-butter mixture. Add the dry ingredients, mix well with a spatula, and spoon the mixture into the prepared pan. Spread the batter with a spatula so that it reaches all corners.
• Bake the brownies for 20 to 25 minutes, until just firm and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with wet crumbs attached.
• Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then lift the brownies out of the pan, and let cool until the brownies have firmed up a bit before cutting into squares. Eat when still warm, as that’s when the chocolate chunks are still a bit melty.
Reprinted with permission from Stewart, Tabori & Chang
This article appears in August 2016.
