I want to make Dorie Greenspan's lucky charm brownies but I don't have a food processor. Was thinking I could crush the amaretti by hand (or by ro...

Hi Elle! The Lucky Charms Brownies are made with an odd batter - it's more emulsified than mixed or beaten, which is why the food processor is the ideal tool. I've never tried the recipe with a stand mixer, but if you decide to, I'd make sure that the amaretti are very finely crushed and I'd use almond meal/flour instead of the slivered almonds. I'd beat the butter on its own for a long time until it's almost the consistency of mayonnaise and then I'd add the eggs and proceed with the recipe, beating for longer than the direx for doing this in a processor. Use the leaf/paddle attachment and, when the batter is done, rap the bowl against the counter a few times. If you make the brownies, let me know how it goes - Dorie

If you used fine almond meal and the REALLY bashed the amaretti....it should work. For good measure, combine everything in the mixer and just run it on low speed for a few minutes to really make sure its blended. I'll do that with brown sugar that's a little lumpy sometimes.