Oh, wait! Did we hear brownies? Don't blame us if our mouth starts watering instantly. Brownies are something to drool for! You know, you could be experimenting with different chewy brownie recipes over the years and still not find the right one that vibes with your soul.
It is all about experimenting with different ingredients, recipes, and instructions unless you reach something phenomenal on this brownie journey. So if you have already begun baking this holiday season and brownies are the first thing on your list, then we will urge you to go through the article for simple but handy tips and instructions.
Let's first sort the ingredients
So, let us begin with the basics! Yup, we are talking about the ingredients. Without all of them aligned on the kitchen counter, you will not be able to come up with your favorite chewy fudge brownie.
So make sure before you begin you have gone shopping for these items and ingredients. Amidst the process of baking, you can probably leave it undone and rush to the store, can you? So let's start in a systematic manner such that you don't find yourself in a mess in the middle of the brownie baking job.
Chocolate and cocoa powder
If you are looking forward to a chocolatey and extremely fudgy brownie then we have to suggest you use melted chocolate, choco chips, and some cocoa powder as well. The more the merrier. Often you will find recipes that tell you to use two different kinds of chocolate in your brownies but we will suggest you go ahead with cocoa powder to attain the right texture.
Sometimes you will observe that even if you did all things right, your brownies didn't acquire the chewy texture you wanted! Probably, that is because you didn't use cocoa powder in it. Now the company which you would like to pick is up to you! More or less, all kinds of cocoa powder do great justice to brownies.
Then comes fat
Of course, you can not miss out on fat when you are making brownies or for that matter any kind of dessert. It gives the richness and consistency to your desserts! So let's have a look.
If you are using cocoa powder in your brownies, then you should know that it is likely your brownies will dry up and the batter will be rough if you don't pour in enough butter. A combination of saturated and unsaturated that is solid and liquid fat can be combined for such recipes. For example, you can put some melted butter and vegetable oil in the mixture to form a smooth batter.
Mostly unsalted butter is preferred since it won't end up adding extra salt to your brownie.
It all boils down to sugar
Now, finally, we need to bring your attention to sugar. Granulated sugar is the best when you are making brownies. It is easier to mix the sugar without much hassle. Although, you can even go ahead with brown sugar if you want.
However, brown sugar can rob the chewy consistency and add more moisture to your brownies due to the presence of molasses. Hence that is something you need to be careful about. So instead of having that shiny and crusty top, you might end up with too many holes on top due to the excess moisture.
Eggs are a must
Oh, alright! We almost forgot to tell you about eggs but you shouldn't skip them! Egg yolks are excellent for providing the texture of chewiness to your brownies. The protein and the fat present in the composition of the egg give your brownies a rich texture. However, you should always use cold eggs instead of normal room-temperature eggs. The brownies will become crumbly and fluffy and you will simply not be able to acquire the right chewy texture.
Flour
Next comes into play, the flour! You cannot make brownies without flour, can you? All-purpose flour can make your brownies turn out fluffy and crumbly but you don't want to, right? Chewy and fudgy brownies are what you need here so make sure you use some bread flour instead.
Cake flour tends to make your brownies as tender and fluffy as cakes while bread flour can be the best option for chewy brownies. You should be careful about the amount of flour you are using as excess can give a cakey texture to your brownies. Stick to a small amount.
Some leavening agent
The best part about brownies is that you don't need any leavening agent! This is because you want the brownie to be chewy, fudgy, and dense, instead of too much of cakey and fluffy. Leavening agents will create holes and lift your brownie to turn it into something like a chocolate cake.
Should you add cornstarch?
Let us tell you about a secret ingredient that can make your homemade brownie seem like it has been bought from a gourmet store. Yup, you must have guessed it by now! We are talking about cornstarch. All you need is a tablespoon of cornstarch in the mixture and you are good to go. This not only gives density and thickness to your brownie but also improves the texture of the crust. Be careful about the amount of cornstarch you are adding to your brownie because even that can make a difference to the texture.
Can you add some nuts?
A good question to bother yourself with! Do brownies taste good with nuts in them? The answer to that question is a yes! Of course, you can add some crumbs to your brownies.
Shred pecans or walnuts and add to the mixture. You can either add them along with the chocolate chips or in their replacement. But remember that removing chocolate chips altogether can rob the shine from the crust as well. If you wish to enhance the taste of your brownies then you should probably try toasting your nuts for a few minutes.
How long does it take to bake the brownies?
If you are baking brownies for the first time and wondering what can be the time for which you should bake them, here are a few notes of suggestions and advice for you. Brownies are usually baked at 325°F for about thirty minutes. Do not exceed the time limit or you might end up baking it too much and burn the crust in the process.
To know that your brownie is done, there will be moist crumbs attached on the plate which is an indication your brownie is done. Even after thirty minutes you feel like the center is tender and gooey, do not make the mistake of letting it bake for some more time. Remove it from the oven immediately after thirty minutes. The residual heat of the pan is enough to give the desired texture to your brownie. You should always use metal baking pans as they remain hot even after being removed from the oven and help in cooking the brownie well with residual heat.
Once you are done, you should let the brownies cool down completely before slicing them into desired shapes and sizes.
Pro tip- Sometimes even if you are using the right temperature and time, your brownies may remain undercooked. In-home ovens, the devices run the risk of getting cold faster than the shop ovens! Check with a thermometer before you start. Preheat your oven before you begin.
What is the right way to store the brownies?
Once you have accomplished baking your brownies right, now you are probably not going to finish the entire batch in a day! Hence you need some storage plan so that your brownies remain fresh and good! You can store them inside an airtight container for three to four days and leave them in a dry place. If you are storing them inside the refrigerator then you can make your brownies last up to a week without getting soggy or damaged. When they are stored in cold temperatures, the brownies will become even more fudgy and chewy! Exactly, the way you want them to turn out.
Learn about the common substitutes
Sometimes to turn your recipe into a healthier version of the same, you need to substitute a couple of ingredients with their nutritive alternative. Is there something that you can do with your brownies as well, to enjoy them even while you are on a diet? Let's find out!
You can reduce the content of sugar or substitute it with something healthier. There are vegan brownie recipes that you can try as well. Nuts, chocolate chips, toffee, and jelly bits are taste enhancers when you are making brownies.
Things you should have
Of course, you need an oven to bake your brownies right but apart from that, there are a couple of tools that you should be using for the perfect fudgy brownies!
First of all, you should use a metal pan to lay the batter before placing it inside the oven! Glass plates can leave the bottom of your brownies soggy. A part of the crust gets baked with residual heat however with glass plates, the heat quickly dissipates and the pan cools down! In that case, your brownies will remain undone. So make sure you have a metal pan in the house before you start.
Also, while baking, whether brownies or any other dessert, have an oven thermometer handy. This will help you to find out the precise temperature of the oven.
So that is all about baking fudgy brownies! Hope you have a fun time baking them this afternoon.
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