Best Brownies & Frosting

I subscribed to a meal-planning service for a short time.  This was one of the recipes our family enjoyed from the service.  And it seems that everyone else at Alena's baby blessing enjoyed them, too.  That is, if anyone besides Bryant and Kaysen got any (they ate 13 between the two of them!).

Best Brownies from Deals to Meals
4 cubes butter
1 cup baking cocoa
4 cups granulated sugar
8 eggs
3 3/4 cup flour
1 tsp. salt
1 T. vanilla
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped nuts, optional

In a large pot, melt butter.  Remove from heat and add cocoa.  Then beat in sugar and eggs, one at a time.  Mix in the rest of the ingredients and stir just until combined.  Pour into a greased and floured (I used a lightly sprayed parchment paper) large cookie sheet (10x15).  Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes, until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  Cut into 48 bars.

WW PointsPlus:  6 (very worth it!)

Variations:  sprinkle baked brownies with powdered sugar, top with homemade chocolate frosting, or layer with mint or peanut butter frosting and then chocolate ganache.

Buckeye Frosting (Peanut Butter)

Gooseberry Patch

4 cups powdered sugar

½ cup butter

1 cup peanut butter

¼ cup milk

Add powdered sugar, butter, and peanut butter to mixing bowl.  Mix with beaters until fairly well incorporated.  Slowly add milk, as needed, until frosting is desired consistency.  Spread frosting carefully on cooled brownies.  Top with Chocolate Ganache.

Grasshopper Frosting (Mint)

Betty Crocker

4 cups powdered sugar

½ cup butter

1 tsp. peppermint extract

¼ cup milk

Green or red food coloring

Add powdered sugar and butter to mixing bowl.  Mix with beaters until fairly well incorporated.  Slowly add milk, as needed, until frosting is desired consistency.  Tint with desired color.  Spread frosting carefully on cooled brownies.  Top with Chocolate Ganache.

Chocolate Ganache

Gooseberry Patch

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

½ cup butter

Melt chocolate chips and butter together in microwave-safe bowl (mine took about 90 seconds).  Stir until combined and all chips are melted.  Spread carefully over frosted brownies.