Brownies

A good and easy brownie recipe. Icing is optional since they are so rich and sweet.

1 cup of sugar
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract (I used maple)
1/2 cup of butter, melted
1/2 cup of all purpose flour
1/3 cup of baking cocoa
1/4 teaspoon of baking powder
1/4 teaspoon of salt

In a large mixing bowl, beat the sugar,eggs, and vanilla. Add butter; mix well. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt; add to batter and mix well.

Pour into a greased 8 inch square baking pan. Bake at 350* for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.


from Taste of Home Baking p. 96 (icing recipe is included in the cookbook)

Blondies

Blondies are basically like a giant brownie (or giant chocolate chip cookie!). My men absolutely love them. Here is my favorite recipe:

Blondies

(makes 8x8 pan-double recipe if you want 9x13... I triple mine for a giant cookie sheet!)

1/3 cup of butter
1 cup of brown sugar
1 egg
7/8 cup of flour (1 cup minus 2 tablespoons)
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 cup of chocolate chips
1 tsp vanilla

Melt butter. Blend in sugar and egg. Cool. Combine dry ingredients and then add to the wet mixture. Add chocolate chips & vanilla. Stir with a wooden spoon.

Bake at 350* for 15-20 minutes.

* Substitutions: You could substitute about 1/4 of the flour for oats. You could do flax-seed or wheat too.
I use maple flavoring sometimes instead of vanilla, and sometimes I use different types of "chips" (butterscotch, white chocolate,etc).