Pumpkin-Basil Brownies

Awhile ago, I came across a recipe on Some The Wiser for Basil Brownies that sounded delicious.  I was going to make them, but then I ended up making Cinnamon Brownies instead. Today, I finally got around to making some Basil Brownies!  In the process, I compared 3 different brownie recipes : 2 of mine, and 1 from Some the Wiser.  Then, I created my own. (The new creation is in red pen).  Pumpkin was a necessary ingredient, because I just opened the first can of pumpkin this season...it's time to start putting pumpkin in everything!

Pumpkin-Basil Brownies

3.5 oz 85% cocoa chocolate bar

13 tbsp butter

1 1/2 tbsp cocoa powder

1/3 c pumpkin

pinch of sea salt

scant tsp vanilla

2 eggs

scant 1 1/2 c white sugar

1 1/4 c white flour

3/4 c fresh basil 

1/4 c mini chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350. Break the chocolate bar into pieces, put into a microwave-safe bowl with the butter, and microwave 2-3 minutes until mostly melted.  Stir until melted completely.  Add the cocoa powder, pumpkin, salt, and vanilla, mix well.  Incorporate the eggs.  Mix in the sugar, then the flour.  Put the basil in a food processor and chop finely, then add to the batter.   Add the chocolate chips.  Grease a 9x9 pan, then pour in the batter.  Bake for 30 minutes.  A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean.  

Cinnamon Brownies

Cinnamon Brownies with Coffee Ice Cream

Cinnamon Brownies

(preheat oven to 350)

1/4 c butter, melted

1/4 c vegetable oil

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1 c white sugar

1/3 c cocoa powder

1/2 c flour

2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 c cashews, crushed

pour the batter into a 9x9 pan

bake for 20-25 minutes

Cream Cheese Bacon Brownies

Because chocolate and bacon go with everything.  Including each other.  

Culinary match made in Heaven?

Cream Cheese Bacon Brownies

4 squares (4 ounces) of Baker's Chocolate

1 1/2 sticks of Butter

2 scant cups of Sugar

3 Eggs

1 tsp Vanilla

1+ cup of Flour

6 strips of Bacon

3 oz Cream Cheese

Put the Butter and Chocolate in a glass bowl and microwave for 2 minutes, then stir until fully melted. Add the Sugar, Eggs, Vanilla, and Flour, stirring well after each ingredient is added.  Chop the Bacon into small pieces and fry it.  Spoon out the grease and add it to your bacon grease jar for use in future kitchen adventures.  Chop the Cream Cheese into small pieces, then mix them into the brownie batter.  Pour the batter into a greased 9x9 pan.  

Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes.  

Brownies are done when you jab a toothpick into the center of the pan and it comes out clean.

Delicious-ness. 

Mint Chocolate Chip Brownies

Best. Brownies. Ever.  

I can't believe I haven't posted this recipe yet!  I was in the middle of whipping up a batch to take to the bike shop this morning, and suddenly realized that I hadn't added them to the blog.  So here they are.  

RECIPE

4 squares of baker's chocolate

1 1/2 sticks of butter

3 eggs

2 c sugar

1 tsp peppermint extract

1 c flour

1/2 c chocolate chips

Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes.