Making brownies have never been easier…

A still-warm brownie – chewy on the within with a shiny, crackly high – and a glass of milk is the form of after-school snack fantasy that by no means fades away.

However what number of occasions have I acted this out? Not almost sufficient, regardless of my grownup baking abilities and the liberty to whip up a pan of the fudgy treats anytime the craving strikes.

Perhaps that is as a result of by the point I’ve measured and combined the batter, poured it right into a parchment-lined pan and baked it, that childhood longing has been tamped down by extra wise and mature inclinations.

This brownie recipe is the antidote to all that grown-up moderation. I created it for my new YouTube present, “Shortcut vs. Showstopper.” The objective was to give you the very best straightforward brownie recipe conceivable, and evaluate it with my very refined recipe for olive oil brownies with sea salt.

And it’s so straightforward. Combined and baked in a single skillet, you do not have time for second ideas. And leaving the brownie in that skillet for serving, as a substitute of cooling and chopping it into neat bars, is an invite to dig proper in, ideally whereas its stomach is heat, gooey and slightly wobbly. And whilst you’re at it, including a scoop of ice cream by no means hurts, particularly because it melts right into a custardy puddle, soaking into the fudgy confection.

The one potential sticking level on this recipe issues precisely that – discovering the fitting skillet to make use of so the batter does not irretrievably glue itself to the pan after baking. I swear by my ceramic nonstick skillet, however different choices will work, together with a really well-seasoned cast-iron or carbon-steel pan, or a daily, oven-safe nonstick skillet. (Many nonstick skillets are oven-safe to 350 levels, which is the temperature referred to as for right here.) Phrase of warning: Do not do this in your stainless-steel skillet. In the event you do, the underside of the brownie will adhere to the pan till you chisel or soak it off. I can let you know this from unhappy previous expertise. In the event you lack the fitting skillet for this, do not fret. Simply combine the batter in a saucepan, pour it right into a greased 9-inch sq. pan and bake as directed.

However do not overbake. For this recipe, err on the facet of below relatively than overdone. As quickly as the highest of the brownie appears to be like dry, press your finger frivolously within the heart; it ought to really feel like Jell-O below the floor. Skip inserting a toothpick, which might emerge lined in chocolate and will not allow you to anyway.

Then, discover a spoon and a glass of milk. Snack time has arrived.

Recipe: Straightforward Skillet Brownies

By Melissa Clark

These easy brownies are combined and baked in the identical skillet. Chewy and fudgy, they’re the whole lot you need in a brownie however quicker and with much less mess to wash up. If you do not have an ovenproof nonstick skillet (ideally ceramic, or you may do this in a really well-seasoned cast-iron pan), pour the batter right into a greased 9-inch sq. pan for baking. You’ll be able to let the brownies cool and minimize them into wedges or squares. Or, serve them heat from the oven and straight from the pan, ideally with a scoop of ice cream plopped on high.

Yield: 8 to 12 brownies

Complete time: 40 minutes, plus cooling

Elements:

3/4 cup/185 grams unsalted butter

6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped (about 1 cup)

1/2 teaspoon tremendous sea or desk salt

1 1/2 cups/300 grams sugar

3 giant eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3/4 cup/95 grams all-purpose flour

3/4 cup/110 grams walnut or pecan items (optionally available)

Flaky sea salt (optionally available)

Ice cream, for serving (optionally available)

Preparation:

1. Warmth oven to 350 levels. In an ovenproof 10- or 11-inch nonstick skillet (ideally ceramic nonstick) set over medium-low warmth, mix the butter, chocolate and salt. Let butter and chocolate soften, stirring sometimes. Flip off the warmth.

2. Rigorously whisk in sugar till easy, then whisk in eggs and vanilla. Lastly, whisk in flour till no streaks stay. Utilizing a spatula, fold within the nuts, if utilizing. Easy high and sprinkle frivolously with flaky sea salt in case you like.

3. Bake till the highest is ready, the middle is comfortable and the sides are agency and begin to draw back from the pan, 20 to 27 minutes. (A toothpick inserted into the middle will come out gooey.) Switch to a wire rack to chill. You’ll be able to serve these nonetheless slightly heat and straight from the pan, with ice cream on high in case you like. Or, let cool utterly earlier than slicing into wedges or bars.