S'mores Brownies

I won something! Actually I’ve wont two somethings. The first something was a cookbook: Small-Batch Baking for Chocolate Lovers by Debby Maugans given away by Sommer at A Spicy Perspective. I love Sommer’s blog, her food is delicious, her pictures are amazing AND she lives in Asheville, NC – what’s not to love? By the way, if anyone knows of any legal/attorney job openings in Ashville, I would greatly appreciate the referral. Living in NC (specifically Ashville) has been a fantasy of mine since I visited there over 20 years ago as a freshman in high school.

When the book was delivered, it “fell open” to the S’mores Brownie recipe. I’m not one to argue with fate…actually I am, but not in the case of s’mores or brownies, so I willfully obliged. The original recipe suggested baking the brownies is a 5x3 inch  (2 cup capacity) mini loaf pan but since I didn’t have a 5x3 inch loaf pan I figured muffin cups would work just as well. Good call on my part if I must say so myself – every bite gets it’s own “edge crust” (the corner pieces of brownies are fought over in my family).

These brownies are so darn good. They are soft and fudgy with a crunch from the graham cracker crust and of course the marshmallows and s’mores component makes these puppies brilliant. The only issue I had with these brownies is that I have no idea how to photograph them. I had some issues with the white marshmallows, shiny tin foil and rough top. So if you make these and manage to get some pictures of them, please let me know so that I can learn from your awesomeness.

I made this treat (and many others) while wearing the super cute apron (the second something I won) from Shawnda at Confections of a Foodie Bride. Shawnda's blog is another great one everyone should have added to their reader. It is her blog that brought me my favorite Real Strawberry Cake, Vanilla Bean and Ginger Carrot Cake recipes. Thank you Sommer and Shawnda for hosting these giveaways and turning me into a giveaway junkie. I love free stuff and now that I’ve actually won something, I find myself even more hopeful that I can win more…and this is why I don’t gamble (with my own money).

S’mores Brownies (small batch)

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Makes 8 brownies in regular muffin cups

Makes 4 brownies in jumbo muffin cups

Ingredients:

3 regular size graham crackers, crushed (1/3 cup)

4 teaspoons unsalted butter, melted

1 tablespoon sugar

1 ounce unsweetened chocolate, chopped

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

½ cup sugar

1 tablespoons unsweetended cocoa powder

1 large egg, lightly beaten

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

1/8 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons all purpose flour

1 regular size Hershey bar, roughly chopped or 1-cup milk chocolate chips

1 graham cracker rectangle, roughly chopped

1 cup mini marshmallows

Directions:

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Line 8 regular muffins cups with 4 x 4” tin foil squares (or line 4 jumbo muffin cups with 6 x6” squares). Spray with cooking oil.
2. In a medium microwave safe bowl, mix the graham cracker crumbs with sugar then add in the melted butter. Mix with a fork until well combined. Press about 2 teaspoons of graham mixture into the bottom of each muffin cup (If using jumbo cups, use 4 teaspoons). Bake until it is light and golden 4-6 minutes.
3. Wash out your bowl and dry with a clean cloth. Place chopped chocolate and 2 tablespoons butter into the bowl and microwave on medium power until the chocolate is soft and butter is melted, about 1 ½ minutes. Stir until smooth.
4. Add sugar and cocoa powder and whisk the mixture to blend. Whisk in the egg, vanilla and salt. Stir in the flour until just combined.
5. Spoon 4 teaspoons of the batter into each muffin cup (8 teaspoons if using jumbo). Bake the brownies until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs attached, 24-27 minutes; the top will appear puffed and slightly cracked. DO NOT OVERCOOK.
6. Remove pan from oven and turn on the oven broiler. Scatter the chopped heresy bar and graham crackers on top of each brownie then sprinkle on the marshmallows. Broil until the marshmallows are lightly browned, about 1 minute. Let the brownie layer cool completely in a pan or on wire rack.

Source: Adapted from Small-Batch Baking – for Chocolate Lovers by Debby Maugans

Gwenevere