Buttermilk Cocoa Bars

With a cake-like texture and chocolate frosting, this recipe is actually easier than the end-product appears. Substitute plain or vanilla yogurt for the buttermilk, if needed. The recipe can be doubled and baked in a 15x10" pan. 

Ingredients:

- 1/2 cup butter
- 2 tablespoons baking cocoa
- 1/2 cup water

- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt

- 1/4 cup buttermilk
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 to 4 drops red food coloring (optional)

- 1/4 cup butter
- 2 tablespoons baking cocoa
- 2 tablespoons buttermilk

- 1 to 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- dash of salt
- 3/8 cup chopped almonds (optional)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8x8" or 9x9" baking pan. 

In a small saucepan, bring the first 3 ingredients just to a boil. Cool.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt. Add the cocoa mixture and buttermilk. Mix well. Beat in the egg, vanilla, and food coloring (optional).

Pour into the prepared pan. Bake for approximately 20 minutes.

For frosting, melt 1/4 cup butter with 2 tablespoons cocoa powder and 2 tablespoons buttermilk. Stir in the powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt. Spread over warm cake. Garnish with chopped almonds, if desired.

Caramel Walnut Brownies

Double the ingredients and bake in a 9x13" pan if you want a lot of brownies.

Ingredients:

- 1 cup sugar
- 3/8 cup baking cocoa
- 1/2 cup canola oil
- 2 eggs
- 2 tablespoons milk

- 3/4 cup flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

- 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, divided

- 7 oz caramels
- 1/2 can (7 oz) sweetened condensed milk

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F. Grease an 8x8" pan.

In a large bowl, beat the sugar, cocoa, oil, eggs, and milk.

Combine the flour, salt, and baking powder. Gradually add to egg mixture until well-blended.

Fold in chocolate chips and 1/4 cup walnuts.

Spoon two-thirds of the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 12 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a large saucepan over low heat, heat the caramels and condensed milk until caramels are melted. Pour over baked brownie layer. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup walnuts.

Drop remaining batter by teaspoonfuls over caramel layer. Carefully swirl brownie batter with a knife.

Bake 35-40 minutes longer, or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out with moist crumbs (do not overbake).

Walnut Brownie Bars

These are really fantastic! Take a butter-brown sugar crust, add a fudgy brownie layer, and top it off with melted milk chocolate and chopped walnuts... you'll have a hit! (And possibly a new addiction.) I used a walnut brownie mix, which was fantastic. The recipe makes at least a couple dozen decent-sized bars.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups flour
3/4 cup brown sugar (dark or light)
3/4 cup butter, softened
1 egg yolk
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 box of fudge brownie mix
1 egg
1/3 cup water
1/3 cup canola oil

1 package (11.5 oz) milk chocolate chips, melted
3/4 cup chopped walnuts (toasted, if desired)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 15x10 inch glass pan.

In a medium bowl, combine the first 5 ingredients. Press onto the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until golden brown.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine the brownie mix, egg, water, and canola oil. Once the crust has finished baking, spread the brownie mixture over it while still hot. Bake for 15-20 minutes.

Cool on a wire rack for 30 minutes, then spread the melted chocolate over the brownie layer and sprinkle with the chopped walnuts. Use a spatula to lightly press the walnuts into the chocolate.
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Cool completely before cutting into bars using a sharp knife.

Becky's Brownies

I can't remember where I came across this recipe -- it's been with me for a long time -- but my grandma has dubbed it "Becky's Brownies." It's a delicious homemade brownie recipe and well worth the extra time involved, rather than just making a box mix. You can add some nuts if you like.

Ingredients:

- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup butter
- 2 tablespoons water
- 2 cups chocolate chips, divided
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 eggs
- 3/4 cup flour
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease a 9x9 inch pan.

Combine sugar, butter, and water in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Add 1 cup chocolate chips and vanilla; stir until smooth.

Transfer chocolate mixture to large bowl. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Gradually blend in flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir in remaining chocolate chips.

Spread in prepared pan. Bake for 30 minutes. Cool, then cut and serve.