Having your friends over, baking a brownie and gossiping—is there something better than that? During the winter of 2023, my friends and I were at each other’s house almost every day. And if there’s something that we always did when we were together, it was eat. Brownies were one of the main treats we enjoyed. At first, we used to buy brownie mixes because we were too lazy to actually make one from scratch. But, we gradually started to enjoy cooking.
In fact, we even thought about starting a confectionery business during the summer called “Doce de Casa.” Spoiler: we didn’t. But that’s beside the point. The important thing is that we discovered how much fun cooking could be, so we started searching up some brownies’ recipes and trying them out.
Cooking together was always fun. We’d make a trip to Safeway before starting, grabbing juice and vanilla ice cream (because brownies are good, but they are even better with vanilla ice cream on the side). Then we’d cook and gossip, enjoying each other’s company. Keep in mind, there was always music playing in the background while we cooked—it set the perfect mood for our time together.
We also had our designated roles whenever we were in the kitchen: I was usually the one doing the cooking, Fernanda handled the dishes, and Sofia mostly watched (just kidding—she helped us with various tasks depending on the recipe). Those winter days were so special, and every time I bake brownies now, I’m reminded of the fun we had and the memories we created together.
For that reason, I wanted to share a brownie recipe with you. Maybe it will inspire you to create your own special memories with friends, enjoy time with family, or simply have a relaxing moment alone in the kitchen.
INGREDIENTS:
- 170 grams of unsalted butter
- 120 grams of chocolate discs
- 220 grams of granulated white sugar
- 3 eggs at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla
- 40 grams of unsweetened cocoa powder
- 60 grams of all-purpose flour
- 1 pinch of salt
- 1 teaspoon of instant coffee (Optional)
- 170 grams of chocolate chips
- 100 grams of toasted nuts (Optional)
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Melt the butter in a skillet until it turns golden brown. Once browned, turn off the heat.
- Add the chocolate discs and coffee, stir, and set aside. (If you choose to add the instant coffee, it won’t leave a coffee taste. It will dissolve along with the chocolate in the hot butter.)
- Beat the eggs with the sugar for 8 minutes or until the sugar dissolves.
- Combine the dry ingredients and sift them.
- Mix the chocolate, butter, and coffee mixture with the eggs, then add the vanilla, dry ingredients, chocolate chips, and nuts.
- Grease a 22×22 cm square pan with butter and dust it with cocoa powder.
- Pour the mixture into the pan and bake at 180°C (350°F) for 20 minutes.
This recipe gave me a winter full of memories and fun. It’s perfect for cooking with friends, chatting, and sharing laughter while enjoying something delicious. I hope everyone gets the chance to create memories as special as the ones I made with this recipe.
