Happy Valentine’s Day (almost)! This is Chocolate Monday Part 2 this week, aka Food Network’s chocolate favorites for celebrating the holiday, part of their seasonal #ComfortFoodFeast. So this week you get two totally different kinds of chocolate recipes, Monday’s Guajillo Pepper and Mexican Chocolate Soup and today’s delectable brownies. Happy chocolate campers unite, LOL!
So, I knew I liked chocolate and orange together, but I have to tell you, these brownies blew me away. I couldn’t stop nibbling on them! You are lucky there were any left to take photos of 🙂
Hot from the oven ~ Note the parchment “handles”
They are rich without being overly sweet. The walnuts and white chocolate chunks are fantastic additions to both the flavor and texture. And man, oh man, the glaze packs a huge punch of orange flavor and truly takes these over the top. If you want a less sweet glaze you could use buttermilk instead of the half and half.
Since this is winter and the timing was right, I was able to find blood oranges. They are such a treat – one I wait for all year. They have the most beautiful deep magenta flesh and are sweeter than many other orange varieties. The juice created a naturally pinkish hue for the glaze, perfect for celebrating Valentine’s Day.
Sprinkles make everything festive
Whether you are baking for a sweetheart this weekend or practicing a little self-indulgence, these brownies are the perfect choice. Just as the potato chip company says, you can’t eat just one, 🙂
Make sure you check out all the recipes listed below and the Pinterest page with all of our postings from the years of Food Network’s blog. You are going to be thrilled with the variety!
Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!!
Gluten-Free Tips:
Make sure you use a gluten-free flour blend that contains xanthan gum, guar gum, or psyllium husk powder. You will need one of them to hold these moist brownies together.
- Brownies:
- 6 tbsp melted butter
- 4 oz bittersweet chocolate (70% cacao), coarsely chopped
- 60g (1/2 cup) gluten-free flour blend or all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder (gluten-free if needed)
- 1/2 tsp kosher or sea salt
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1-1/2 cups (6 oz) coarsely chopped walnuts
- 1/2 cup (2-3/4 oz) white chocolate chunks or chips
- Orange Glaze:
- 3 tsp finely grated orange zest
- 3 tsp freshly squeezed orange juice, strained to remove the pulp
- 2 to 3 tbsp half and half or cream, or as needed
- 1 cup powdered sugar, or as needed
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease an 8-inch or 9-inch square baking pan. Line it with parchment paper long enough to hang over two sides of the pan forming two “handles” and butter the parchment paper.
- Make the Brownies: Pour about 2-inches of water into a 3 to 4 quart saucepan. Set the bowl of your standing mixer into the pan - it should fit snuggly but the bottom of the bowl should not touch the water. Bring the water to a high simmer. Place the butter and chocolate in the bowl. Heat, stirring occasionally, until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth.
- In a bowl, blend together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- Remove the bowl with the chocolate mixture from the heat, dry the bottom of the bowl and set on your standing mixer. With the mixer on low and using the paddle attachment, beat in both the sugars until blended. Add the eggs and beat on low to mix in; turn up to medium and beat for about a minute or until lightened in color and fluffy. Stop the mixer and thoroughly scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl and the beater(s). Add the dry ingredients, beat on low until smooth. Add the nuts and white chocolate, mixing 30 seconds until evenly distributed.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and use a small offset spatula to ease it into the corners. Smooth the top. Place in the hot oven.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the top is set and the sides are just beginning to pull away from pan. The center will still be soft and a toothpick inserted halfway between the edge and the center will come out with moist crumbs attached. The center will finish baking as it cools in the pan.
- When the brownies have cooled, lift the parchment paper and transfer to a cutting board. Make sure they are thoroughly cool before cutting into 16 pieces.
- Prepare the Orange Glaze: In a medium bowl, combine the orange zest, juice, and 2 tbsp of the half and half. Whisk to combine. Add the powdered sugar and whisk until smooth. If it is too thin, add more powdered sugar; if it is too thick a little more half and half. You want it creamy but still thin enough to drizzle easily. Taste it and if you think it needs more orange flavor, add more zest or a few drops of essential orange oil. Drizzle in a zig-zag pattern over cut brownies.
- Store, covered, in the refrigerator.
- Yield: 16 servings
Create a New Tradition Today!
This recipe is part of Food Network’s weekly Comfort Food Feast. See the links below for inspiration and great recipes and check out our Pinterest page for even more!
- The Lemon Bowl: Dark Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Creamy Cheese Frosting
- Feed Me Phoebe: Dark Chocolate Beauty Bark with Chia Seeds, Pepitas and Goji Berries
- The Heritage Cook: Gluten-Free Black & White Brownies with Orange Glaze
- Virtually Homemade: Chocolate Covered Strawberries with Coconut
- Creative Culinary: Raspberry Boccone Dolce (Pavlova with Chocolate and Raspberries)
- Daisy at Home: Mocha Mousse Marshmallow Cake
- The Mom 100: Molten Chocolate Peanut Butter Cakes
- Dishin & Dishes: Espresso Truffles
- Elephants and the Coconut Trees: Chocolate-Covered Strawberries
- The Cultural Dish: Moroccan Pots de Creme
- Red or Green: Dark Chocolate Truffles- 4 Flavors
- Napa Farmhouse 1885: Chocolate-Coconut-Cashew Bark with Sea Salt
- The Wimpy Vegetarian: Chocolate and Pretzel Bark with Sea Salt
- In Jennie’s Kitchen: Fudgy, Chewy Brownies {dairy free}
- Haute Apple Pie: Mississippi Mud Pie
- Taste with the Eyes: Chocolate Mint Parfaits with Chocolate Hearts
- Food for 7 Stages of Life: Everyday Chocolate Granola
- FN Dish: Melt Hearts with Handmade Chocolate Sweets — Comfort Food Feast
Let’s connect! If you ever need any entertaining or cooking advice, need to alter a recipe for gluten-free, or want recipe suggestions, don’t hesitate to email me. Thanks for reading!
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