Did you know that on average, Americans consume a staggering 2 billion pounds of chocolate in the form of brownies each year? That’s enough to cover the entirety of New York City’s Central Park in a layer of rich, fudgy goodness. And when it comes to the ultimate brownie recipe, one name stands out above the rest: Stella Parks’ bravetart glossy fudge brownies.
Stella Parks’ brownies from her James Beard Award-winning cookbook, “BraveTart: Iconic American Desserts”, are thick, incredibly fudgy, and marked by a signature glossy, shiny top that crinkles and flakes when sliced. These chocolate treats are incredibly rich and indulgent thanks to ingredients like brown butter, espresso powder, and both melted chocolate and Dutch-processed cocoa powder. Stella Parks is a famed pastry chef and former writer for the food website Serious Eats, known for her detailed baking recipes that don’t shy away from the complicated science of common baking techniques.
Introducing Stella Parks’ Legendary Brownie Recipe
Stella Parks, the famed pastry chef and former writer for the food website Serious Eats, has crafted a truly iconic dessert with her Bravetart Glossy Fudge Brownies. Her journey as a baking enthusiast began in 2011 when she started contributing to Serious Eats, eventually becoming the site’s pastry editor from 2016 to 2019. Prior to that, she ran the now-defunct-but-at-the-time-very-popular baking blog, BraveTart, which showcased her obsessive, detailed baking recipes.
The Story Behind Bravetart’s Iconic Dessert
Stella Parks’ deep dive into the science of baking has earned her a reputation for recipes that don’t shy away from the complicated intricacies of common baking techniques. Her articles exploring how eggs affect cookies and the art of scaling cake recipes have become invaluable resources for home bakers and professionals alike. Her Bravetart Glossy Fudge Brownies are a testament to this attention to detail, as they employ techniques like browning the butter and whipping the eggs and sugar to achieve their signature rich, fudgy texture and glossy top.
Why Stella Parks’ Brownies Stand Out
What sets Stella Parks’ Bravetart Glossy Fudge Brownies apart is their unwavering commitment to quality and flavor. By utilizing high-quality ingredients like Dutch-processed cocoa powder, espresso powder, and dark chocolate, these brownies deliver a depth of chocolate notes that is simply unparalleled. Stella’s expertise in the cookie science and cake scaling aspects of baking ensures that each bite is a perfectly balanced and indulgent experience.
Bravetart Glossy Fudge Brownies: Ingredients and Substitutions
Stella Parks’ renowned bravetart glossy fudge brownies call for a thoughtful blend of high-quality ingredients that contribute to their decadent flavor and texture. From the use of dutch-processed cocoa powder to the addition of espresso powder, each component plays a vital role in creating these iconic brownies.
Dutch-Processed Cocoa Powder: The Key to Rich Flavor
The recipe calls for an impressive 1 1/3 cups of dutch-processed cocoa powder, which lends the brownies a deeper, richer chocolate flavor compared to natural unsweetened cocoa powder. This specialized ingredient helps to elevate the overall chocolate notes and create a luxurious, fudgy texture.
Espresso Powder: The Secret to Intense Chocolate Notes
Alongside the dutch-processed cocoa powder, the recipe also includes 1 teaspoon of instant espresso powder. This subtle addition intensifies the chocolate flavor without making the brownies taste overly coffee-forward, adding a delightful complexity to the final product.
Kosher Salt: The Importance of Using Diamond Crystal
For the best results, Stella Parks recommends using Diamond Crystal kosher salt, which has larger crystals and a less salty profile than other brands like Morton’s. This salt choice helps to balance the sweetness and accentuate the other flavors without overwhelming the palate.
Dark Chocolate: Choosing the Right Cacao Percentage
The brownies call for 6 ounces of dark chocolate, with a cacao percentage ranging from 60-70%. This higher cacao percentage ensures an intense chocolate flavor that complements the other ingredients perfectly, creating a truly indulgent and satisfying treat.
The Perfect Fudgy and Glossy Texture
When it comes to bravetart glossy fudge brownies, the secret to their unparalleled fudgy texture and signature glossy top lies in a few key techniques. First and foremost, Stella Parks’ recipe calls for browning the butter, which adds a wonderful depth of flavor and a subtle caramel note to the chocolate-forward brownies.
Browning the Butter for Depth of Flavor
By taking the time to brown the butter, we are able to unlock a rich, nutty aroma that complements the intense chocolate notes perfectly. This simple step elevates the overall flavor profile of the bravetart glossy fudge brownies, creating a truly decadent and irresistible treat.
Whipping the Eggs for a Light and Airy Crumb
The second key to achieving the fudgy texture and glossy top lies in the way we handle the eggs and sugar. Stella Parks’ recipe calls for whipping the eggs and sugar together until they’re light and airy. This technique creates a contrast between the dense, fudgy center and the slightly lighter, more airy crumb of the brownies.
The combination of brown butter and whipped eggs results in bravetart glossy fudge brownies that are incredibly moist and fudgy, with a signature shiny, crackly top that’s simply irresistible.
Tips for Baking Bravetart’s Glossy Fudge Brownies
When it comes to baking the renowned Bravetart glossy fudge brownies, a bit of extra effort is required, but the end result is undoubtedly worth it. The key to achieving the signature glossy, fudgy texture lies in a few crucial steps that we’ll walk you through.
First and foremost, browning the butter is an essential technique that adds a delightful depth of flavor to these brownies. This simple step elevates the overall richness and complexity of the chocolate notes. Secondly, whipping the eggs and sugar together is crucial for creating a light, airy crumb that contrasts beautifully with the dense, fudgy interior.
Lastly, using high-quality Dutch-processed cocoa powder and dark chocolate is paramount. These premium ingredients provide the intense chocolate flavor that makes these Bravetart glossy fudge brownies so irresistible. By following these techniques closely, you’ll be rewarded with a batch of brownies that boast the signature glossy, crackly top and irresistibly fudgy texture that have made this recipe a true baking legend.