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Jumbo Fudge Brownies with Perfect Chocolate Frosting I've been known to be, in the past...in my life.... somewhat of a romantic.
But really, it's not my fault.
It all started when I was 12 years old with this scene right here. ( <- click me!)
I was in trouble.  It was out of my control.
When the allure of it all started to wear off, 16 year old me was hit with this whammy. ( <- click me again!)
This scene may or may not have influenced the years of my life from 16-18. We just can't say for sure.
Finally I moved on to college, to bigger and better things where I was confident I could leave my romantic ideas behind me once and for all.  Freshman year in my dorm-room I was then confronted with this. ( <- click me one more time - you know you want to)

But seriously, can we talk about what a great movie "Love Actually" is sometime?  For real.  Great, sounds good, see you there.

As the years have gone by, my ideas of romance have changed and realigned.  All things considered I think I came out from those years pretty unscathed.  My 21 (almost 22) year old ideas of romance?  Hard to define. But I'm thinking jumbo fudge brownies with perfect chocolate frosting are not the worst place to start.
Because really when romance starts with something as wonderful as these, it's only bound to look up.
I cut myself a half of one of these for dessert one night and was so smitten that the second half was also eaten before the thought of saving it for the next day even came into consideration.
These are truly phenomenal and some of (if not totally) the best brownies I have ever made.  Dense and chewy, with silky chocolate frosting piled high on top.
This is my go-to chocolate icing for cupcakes, cakes, and brownies and it is so simple yet the results are just out of this world.  It layered in pretty swirls over brownies that rival the size of most others I've ever seen make these a definite winner in my book.
But be careful who you make these for and what romance you try to start with them. If you gift that special someone in your life with these and the next night they wind up outside of your window with a boom box over their head, or show up with signs at your door saying "to me, you are perfect" you can't say you haven't been warned.

These brownies will do things like that to you.

As for me I'm content to cuddle in with a warm cup of tea and one of these and focus on life's real moments - the ones that are far more real and far less cheesy... but maybe if Titanic is playing on TNT I'll still consider flipping by it for a moment.



Servings: 18-20 brownies


For brownies:
19 Tbsp unsalted butter
3/4 cup dark cooa powder

For frosting:
6 Tbsp butter (softened)
1/2 cup dark cocoa powder
1/4-1/3 cup milk

To make brownies preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.  In a medium saucepan, melt butter.  Cool slightly and stir in cocoa powder until combined.  In a separate mixing bowl beat the eggs and sugar until combined.  Sift the flour, salt, and baking powder into the egg mixture and stir gradually to combine.  Stir in the vanilla and the cooled chocolate mixture and stir until combined.  Spread into greased pan and bake for 25-28 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean.  Cool completely.

To make frosting in a clean mixing bowl combine butter, powdered sugar, cocoa, and vanilla and cream until smooth.  Add milk a little at a time until desired spreading consistency is reached.  Spread over cooled brownies, cut and enjoy.

Recipe adapted from: Taste of Home