Chewy Chocolate Brownies

Over the years, I have made these brownies hundreds of times, slowly modifying the original recipe I got off the back of a box of unsweetened chocolate square more than twenty years ago to the one you see here. I make these brownies for events at my sons' schools and gatherings that need a little sweetening up. They are always a favorite. You can double the recipe as I often do and cook on a half sheet or in a high-sided cookie sheet. After cooling, I’d cut into twenty squares and sell them at my work to those who needed a sweet break. They always sold out.

Strive to use the best ingredients and you will be paid back with flavor, moistness and requests for the recipe. I use real Irish butter, organic sugar or sometimes maple sugar, free-range eggs with bright yellow yolks from a local farmer, sea salt instead of table salt and sprouted spelt instead of white or wheat flour.

1 cup butter

6 oz. unsweetened baking chocolate

2½ cups sugar

5 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla extract

½ tsp. sea salt

1½ cups sprouted spelt

2 cups chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 375°F. Place the butter and chocolate in a small saucepan. Cook over very low heat until the chocolate and butter are melted. Stir until the mixture is smooth. Set aside to cool for 10 minutes.

In a large mixer bowl, beat sugar and eggs until light yellow and fluffy; add vanilla extract and salt. Add in the chocolate/butter mixture and stir to incorporate. Gradually add the sprouted spelt until incorporated. Stir in nuts with a big wooden spoon. Pour into a greased 9x13-inch baking pan, or if doubling, into a parchment-lined half sheet baking pan in which the sides have been greased.

For the 9x13-inch pan, bake 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. For the half sheet, bake 45-55 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Completely cool and cut into squares.

First posted February 2, 2007.