layer on top of brownies
lately every time I make brownies there is a hard layer that forms on the top of the brownies, cracking the minute I cut into them, making a hard layer that ends up separating from the "brownies" underneath. why does this happen?
Recommended by Food52
8 Comments
So if you are creaming the butter and sugar together, and then adding the eggs, and beating this mixture for a while before adding the dry ingredients- there will surely be a crust on the brownies!
The first time (recently) I made them I thought I overmixed them with the mixer so this time I made them by hand and it still happened. First batch had chips, the second one no. The second batch I made a diff. recipe in an 8x8 pan and baked for 40 minutes (they were undercooked). This is the first recipe.
brownies
Cooking spray, for greasing
16 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
2 sticks unsalted butter, melted and cooled
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon flour, divided
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 11.5-ounce bag semisweet chocolate chunks
3/4 cup walnuts, roughly chopped, optional
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat a 9 x 13 baking pan with cooking spray and set aside.
2. Melt entire 16-ounces chocolate chips over a double boiler. Transfer to a medium bowl. Add butter and mix until well incorporated. Set aside to cool.
3. Using an electric mixer, beat eggs and sugar together until smooth. Add cooled chocolate mixture to sugar and mix until smooth. Add vanilla and mix again.
4. In a small bowl, combine 1 cup flour, baking powder and salt. Add dry ingredients, a little at a time, to chocolate mixture, stirring after each addition. Combine until smooth. Toss chocolate chunks with remaining 1 tablespoon flour and add to chocolate mixture. Gently stir to combine. Transfer to prepared baking pan and bake for 45-50 minutes (cover with aluminum foil after 30 minutes if getting too browned), until slightly crisp around edges but gooey inside. Allow to cool to room temperature. Place brownies in refrigerator until ready to serve, at least 2 hours.
Makes approximately 18 brownies.
1. Remove 1 or 2 tablespoons of the granulated sugar called for in the recipe.
2. If the recipes calls for melted butter, stir the batter entirely by hand, not with a mixer, until all the ingredients are just combined. Do not overmix. If the recipe directs you to cream the butter and sugar, use a mixer for that part of the recipe, but switch to a wooden spoon after adding the flour and eggs.
3. Bake the brownies on a rack in the center of the oven.
4. As soon as the pan is removed from the oven, cover it with foil or plastic wrap and poke three holes near the center with a paring knife. Allow to cool until the pan is comfortably warm to the touch, then remove the foil or plastic to cool completely before cutting.
Could this be happening with your brownies, in reverse? If so, maybe cut down on the size or amount of your chocolate pieces and mix them in thoroughly just before baking?