A brownie by any other name… | King Arthur Flour - Baking Banter Love brownies. Love their shiny, flaky top that shatters into micro-thin shards that shower onto your fingers as you eat. Love their dark, gooey center. Sometimes can’t deal with the bake, wait to cool, cutting into squares messiness and fuss of brownies. Every time I make these cookies (which, truth be told, is quite often), I think of a former colleague, Ana, who left King Arthur last year in order to be a full-time mom to her 2-year-old twins. The test kitchen bakers loved Ana. Ana still visits occasionally, 2-year-olds in tow. And when she does, she’ll invariably nose out any chocolate, and treat us to her classic reaction: “Perfect! These cookies are basically brownies: flat, round, 2 ½” brownies. First task: Combine the chocolate and butter. Melt in the microwave till softened… …then stir till smooth. Stir the chocolate into eggs and sugar, which you’ve beaten together. Add the remaining ingredients–including chocolate chips, for an over-the-top chocolate experience. Buy vs.
The Baked Brownie The famed Baked brownie. Oprah says it’s one of her favorite things. America’s Test Kitchens says its their favorite brownie. I don’t put much stock in Oprah, but America’s Test Kitchens are pretty much like the bible when it comes to all things kitchen. I check their reviews before any other recipes, and before I buy any kitchen equipment or new ingredients. has been on my Amazon wish list for what seems like an eternity. There is a great explanation in the book about how the Baked brownie recipe came to be, which is a great read. They have a good bit of height given that they don’t have any leavening agents, so they aren’t thin, gooey and smooshed like some brownies (this is a good thing). Three years ago: Outrageous Brownies
Japanese Cheesecake There are cakes which look absolutely stunning and gorgeous on the outside, but when it comes to the taste, it disappoints, and you just wished that it tasted as good as it looks. I've had a lot of those experiences, and in fact, I think I've made a few of cakes like that myself! What I love about a good Japanese cheesecake is that while in appearance it resembles a humble (and perhaps, plain or boring?) sponge cake, but the minute you put it into your mouth, you want to close your eyes and go 'hmmmmmmmmmmmmm'. We all go through phases, don't we?! Right out of the oven...hmmmmm. Japanese Cheesecake Recipe from The Cookbook Chronicles300g cream cheese 45g unsalted butter 57g egg yolk (this equals to 3 yolks)20g sugar11g cornstarch150g milk95g egg white (3 egg whites)55g sugarUse an 18 cm (7 in) cake pan with a fixed bottomCut a strip of parchment that is 3 cm higher than the height of the cake pan. Preheat the oven to 180°C. In a large bowl, melt the butter over a double boiler.