Fudgy Brownies

Doesn't that picture make your mouth water??

This recipe is a Better Homes and Gardens "Best Loved" recipe, and it's easy to see why. I am in love with these brownies, and especially with the chocolate cream cheese frosting. Divine... Try them and you'll never make any other kind!

I really like making these because you mix them in the same saucepan you melt the chocolate in, and you don't have to pull out your mixer. One bowl and one heat resistant spatula (mine is a Pampered Chef spatula, and I love it!) is all it takes. Easy clean-up.

Fudgy Brownies

1/2 cup butter
3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2/3 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup nuts (optional)
1 recipe Chocolate-Cream Cheese Frosting (optional, recipe follows)

1. In a medium sauce pan melt butter and chocolate over low heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; cool.

2. Grease an 8x8x2-inch or 9x9x2-inch baking pan; set aside. Stir sugar into cooled chocolate mixture in saucepan. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating with a wooden spoon after each addition just until combined. Stir in vanilla.

3. Add flour and baking soda to the chocolate mixture; stir just until combined. If desired, stir in nuts. Spread the batter in the prepared pan.

4. Bake in a 350F oven for 30 minutes for 8-inch pan or 25 minutes for 9-inch pan. Cool on a wire rack. If desired, frost with Chocolate-Cream Cheese Frosting. Cut into bars.

Chocolate-Cream Cheese Frosting

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate pieces
6 ounces cream cheese
1/2 cup sifted powdered sugar

In a saucepan melt the chocolate over low heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; cool. In a small bowl stir together the cream cheese and powdered sugar. Stir in melted chocolate until smooth. Spread over cooled brownies.