Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat your oven to 350° F. This is an essential first step; it ensures your brownies bake evenly. Prepare a 9 x 13 pan by lining it with nonstick cooking spray and parchment paper for easy removal later.
- In a large pot over medium-low heat, melt butter, canola oil, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and cocoa powder together. Stir gently until everything is fully melted and smooth. Be patient, as this melting process is crucial for the rich flavor of your brownies.
- Once melted, remove the pot from the heat and pour in the granulated sugar and vanilla extract. Stir well to combine, ensuring the sugar is well incorporated into the chocolate mixture.
- Next, add the eggs, one at a time, stirring vigorously after each addition. This step is important; you want to ensure the batter thickens and becomes smooth without any grainy texture from the sugar.
- After all four eggs have been added, it’s time to incorporate the remaining dry ingredients. Gently fold in the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt until just combined. Avoid over mixing; you want to keep the batter light.
- Now, fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips and walnuts, if using. This adds delightful pockets of chocolate and a bit of crunch to your brownies.
- Pour the batter into your prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake in your preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes. You’ll know they’re done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
- Once baked, let the brownies cool for 5 to 10 minutes. This is the perfect time to prep for the hot fudge sauce.
- In a small saucepan, combine heavy cream, corn syrup, brown sugar, cocoa powder, salt, and half of the chocolate chips. Heat over medium heat, stirring frequently until it comes to a gentle boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 5 minutes; this helps thicken the sauce.
- Remove from heat and whisk in the remaining chocolate chips, butter, and vanilla extract. This will create a silky sauce that’s perfect for drizzling over your brownies.
- After the brownies have cooled a bit, drizzle approximately 3/4 cup of the prepared hot fudge sauce over the top, spreading it evenly to saturate the brownies.
- Allow the brownies to sit for another 10 minutes to absorb the sauce, then cut into squares. Serve warm, ideally topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a maraschino cherry.
Notes
If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container for up to a week. You may also refrigerate them for a longer shelf life.