Dark Chocolate Covered Orange Brownies
You're just too good to be true.
Can't take my eyes off of you...
I LOVE YOU BROWNIES!!! And yes it's quite alright! I love you browniesssss...I mean, can you blame me? Look at that rich chocolatey goodness oozing from these babies!
Without a doubt, orange and chocolate together instantly remind me of my mom. Every year my dad made sure to put a Terry's Dark Chocolate Orange ball in her stocking. Making these was kind of perfect timing because my parents are coming to visit in just a couple of days (Don't worry, I saved you some!).
Last week I was feelin' a little down having had a quiet week work wise so I decided I better mix together something delicious to perk up my spirits. And maybe to impress my friends. Yes, probably more for the latter but, like, guys; I think these brownies ended up being the good luck spell I needed after all. Seriously, when you are feeling weird and unmotivated MAKE something you are passionate about. Not only does it give you some inspiration but I am convinced it attracts other great things. Am I right? Isn't it more fun to be around passionate people than someone who is a plain ol', complainin', lump on a log? I don't know. I could be crazy but try making something and see how you feel.
Anywho, once I decided I was passionate about chocolate oranges or whatever I wanted to create something special and rich. I used my all time favorite modified Martha/Goddess recipe and spiced it up with a little orange zest, extract, and Lindt Chocolate. UGH. UGHHHHH. (That's me moaning guys...don't get weird about it.) These are so darn good it makes me want to cry. Tears of chocolate. When I die, bury me in a river of chocolate orange please. Every bite is like a fudgy, flavorful dollop of Terry's dark chocolate orange happiness disguised in brownie form.
Now don't you want to eat that? I want to eat that.
Dark Chocolate Orange Brownies
(based on Fudgy Chocolate Brownie Recipe by Martha Stewart)
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, plus more for pan
- 1 bag dark chocolate chips (like Hershey's Special Dark)
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- zest of one Orange
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 bar Lindt Chocolate, Intense Orange
Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare a 13 x 9 baking dish by buttering the sides and then lining the pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
In a double boiler melt chocolate chips and butter together over low heat until smooth and liquified. Take bowl off of the boiler and set aside for fifteen minutes until chocolate cools. Whisk in sugar and orange zest. Next, add in egg, one at a time followed by vanilla extract. Batter will be very moist. Finally add in flour and whisk slowly until combined. Don't go fast or you'll end up with flour all over your counter!
Finally break up the chocolate bar into small pieces and stir gently into the brownie batter. Pour the batter into the parchment paper lined baking dish and bake at 350°F for forty to fifty minutes or until the batter doesn't "move" when you shake it. Don't wait for the "toothpick trick" or you might end up with overdone brownies. You want them to be just slightly under-baked to retain their gooey texture. Let the brownies cool for fifteen minutes and serve!
