Chocolate Chunk Raspberry BROWNIES. Bumped Up a Notch.

 

Chocolate Chunk Raspberry Brownies.  

Chocolate and Raspberry - Possibly one of the best of the chocolate combinations ever.

As I mentioned in a previous brownie post,  Praline Frosted Brownies,  I'm a big fan of taking regular ole boxed brownie mix and bumping em up a notch.

This recipe is bumping up Boxed Brownies several notches on the boxed-brownie-bump-up-scale.

Oh you didn't know?

Yes, there is a "Boxed Brownie Bump Up Scale".

My favorite boxed brownies are Duncan Hines Milk Chocolate, but by all means, use whatever boxed brownie mix you have in your pantry.

For the Brownies

1 boxed brownie mix 

1/4 c. Seedless Raspberry Jam

1/2 c. chocolate chunks

3 eggs

1/4 c. water

1/4 c. vegetable oil

Frosting

1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips (not shown in photo above)

1/4 c. seedless raspberry jam

1/3 c. milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

With a wooden spoon, mix together the brownie mix, eggs, oil and seedless raspberry jam.  

Once combined, add 1/2 cup chocolate chunks.

I bought the Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chunks

Nice big chocolaty chunks.

Several recipes I have call for only a portion of a bag of chocolate chips.

Instead of having opened, half-used bags of chocolate morsels hanging out in the cabinet, I like to keep my extra chips in miscellaneous sized Mason Jars. 

One glance at my handy dandy jars, and I can tell if they are the Mini chips, or the Chunks, or the regular sized chips. 

Ok, add your 1/2 cup of chocolate chunks to the batter.  Gently combine.

Pour the batter into a well sprayed 9x9 pan.

I find the size 9x9 works best for boxed brownie recipes.

The 8x8 is too thick, and sometimes the center doesn't get fully finished, and the 9x13 is too large.

Bake until toothpick inserted in the middle is just about clear.  A teensy bit of goo is not a bad thing.

Let brownies sit and rest while you make the yummy chocolate raspberry frosting.

Yes, you heard me.

Chocolate Raspberry Frosting.

In a small saucepan on medium heat, add a bag of regular sized semi-sweet chocolate chips, 1/4 cup seedless raspberry jam and 1/3 cup of milk.

Keep any eye on your frosting.  Keep stirring and stirring until all gets melted and incorporated.

Once chocolate mixture is fully melted, spread on the warm brownies.

Let brownies sit, so the chocolate frosting can set.  

If you want, you can pop it in the fridge for about 30 minutes so the frosting sets a bit.

That should do the trick.

Chocolaty chocolate brownies with a delicate raspberry flavor perfectly exploding on those taste buds of yours.

Holy Mother of Boxed Brownies!

Overbooked PRALINE FROSTED BROWNIES

 

The question of the day is this:  "Are you a double-booker?"

Is your calendar so overloaded, that you find yourself sometimes overbooking yourself?

I guess the answer to the question of the day is probably a resounding YES for most people.

I'm not from the South, and have not visited that region as often as I would like, but from what I hear, those people down there know exactly how to manage their time.

"Nice and slow"....."Take it easy"......"What's your hurry?"

Since I have no idea how to slow down, and would probably get kicked out of the South because I'm a hyper crazed over-booked lunatic, I love how this wonderfully easy, slow-southern-style brownie recipe, tastes like it took all day to make.

 And they LOOK like it took all day to make too.

 Brownies
1 box Duncan Hines milk chocolate brownie mix
Water, Eggs & Vegetable oil as called for on the brownie mix box
1/2 c. chopped pecans

Praline Frosting
1/2 c.whipping cream (in refrigeration section found next to the half & half)
6 Tbsp. butter
1 1/2 c. packed brown sugar
3/4 c. chopped pecans
1 1/2 c. powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla


Now don't turn your nose up at boxed brownies.  I have several WONDERFUL recipes, that turn regular boxed brownie mix, into a dessert that you'd be proud to serve or take anywhere.

And this recipe happens to be one of them.

But by all means.  If you are lucky enough to have a lot of extra, spare, unbooked time, then please, make a batch of home-made brownies.

Personally, my favorite boxed brownie mix is Duncan Hines.  I have tried them all, and I'm just partial to Duncan Hines Milk Chocolate Brownie Mix. But use whatever you happened to have on hand.

In a large bowl, combine the brownie mix, and use the appropriate ingredients for the "cake like brownie" recipe on the back of the box.

This brand calls for 1/2 c. vegetable oil, 1/4 cup water, and 3 large eggs.

Whichever brownie mix you use, I like to use the "cake like" brownie version on the box. 

Be sure to add the 1/2 cups chopped pecans to the brownie batter.

Pour batter into a greased 9x13 pan.

Bake as directed, and cool brownies for one hour.

After brownies have cooled, start to make the Praline Frosting.

In medium saucepan, add the whipping cream, butter and brown sugar.

Side Note:  I know most people are aware of what Whipping Cream is.  However, someone asked for my recipe and when making these brownies (I won't mention any names) she used Cool Whip because she thought that's what I meant by "whipping cream".

So, for those of you who "might" not know what whipping cream looks like, here's a quick picture.  It can be purchased in the dairy section, normally above the milk, next to the cartons of half & half.

Ok, no laughing allowed. 

Everyone had a "first time" when buying Whipping Cream, and this precious little person who borrowed my recipe, and used Cool Whip, happened to be a whipping cream virgin.

I'm sure we've all had hysterical recipe-errors in our lifetime.  So let's all be polite Southerners and be kind and not laugh at this little person's mis-hap (and sweet pea, if you happen to be reading this.....one day you will tell this story and laugh.  I promise).

Ok, now stir the brown sugar, butter and whipping cream over medium heat, stirring frequently, until mixture comes to a slight boil.  Continue cooking, and stir constantly for one minute while boiling.

Remove from heat, and stir in pecans, vanilla and powdered sugar.

Stir and stir and stir until all is combined, and there isn't any powdered sugar clumps.

Leave saucepan off heat, and let cool for about 6 minutes, stirring about once every minute during this 6 minute time frame.

Pour over cooled brownies, and pop your brownies into the refrigerator.

What's gonna happen during this time in the refrigerator, is the praline frosting is going to get all crackly and will harden up just slightly.

If I were from the South, I believe I'd have to go lay down on my fainting couch right about now.

After completely cooled, these pretties can be cut into nice little squares.  About the size of a "two-bite" square. 

After all, Southern women's mouths are very dainty, it's not polite to cut yourself a big ole hunkin' piece of brownie.

Besides, Praline is very scrumptious and very rich, and most people want a nice small piece. Kind of like fudge.

May be eaten straight from the refrigerator, or at room temp (I like it slightly chilled. Store in the fridge and let set out about 20 minutes before serving).

Take your time, enjoy your Praline Frosted Brownie, and by all means......don't OVERBOOK.