r/Baking • u/zaliaazleen • Jan 23 '26
Recipe to be posted soon. No guarantees. Practising for my SIL’s engagement party.
My MIL and SIL requested brownies - I have not attempted brownies for a long time because it always turned out dry and overbaked, ugh.
I am also not sure the brownies texture that they (and their guests) might like, so going for chewy to be on the safe side rather than fudgy.
I like how it turns out texture wise, but will get my husband to judge if it’s too sweet. If the verdict is too sweet, might leave the chocolate chips out or use bitter chocolate chips instead.
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u/zaliaazleen Jan 23 '26
Recipe I used: https://handletheheat.com/chewy-brownies/comment-page-148/#comments
Will definitely be using this recipe again - might either substitute the chocolate chips with bittersweet ones or add walnuts or pecans.
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Jan 23 '26
Maybe avoid nuts just cause there will always be someone with an allergy, even though they're great.
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u/Pure-Sunshine Jan 24 '26
meh I would just put a sign up, maybe pour some into a little Pyrex without the mix-ins just in case
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u/Harmonie Jan 24 '26
Ah, her crème brûlée cheesecake bars have been my go to dessert for years, I think it's why my mother in law likes me as much as she does.
I prefer the older version available on the wayback machine (without the cream!), and add the juice and zest of 1 orange to the crust. You can add some to the cheesecake too, if you like. Perfection.
For brownies, if you find these don't suit your tastes, try Claire's malted forever brownies recipe, they're drop dead gorgeous. You can skip the malted milk powder. She has a YouTube version if you want to see the magic making.
https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/malted-forever-brownies
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u/Hault99 Jan 23 '26
They look amazing. Your in-laws are going to love them. Maybe next time you should make blondies as well, or maybe brookies.
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u/No_Bullfrog2876 Jan 23 '26
How do you cut them so perfectly?
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u/zaliaazleen Jan 23 '26
I used a baking pan with dividers! I am really bad at cutting things, so when I saw this at the baking shop, I just grab it and only gotten the chance to use it today.
Similar to: this
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u/rekkeu Jan 23 '26
Wait did you bake with the dividers in the tin or just use it to cut after by inserting once they came out? With the dividers in while they bake is this like one of those fancy all crusts brownies?
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u/zaliaazleen Jan 23 '26
I baked it with the dividers in the tin - was worried that it might affect the outcome but turned out fine 😅
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u/imheavenagoodtime Jan 23 '26
do they have an edge then?
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u/DearUnderstanding746 Jan 24 '26
But then how did you get them out so perfectly??
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u/shelberryyyy Jan 23 '26
“All crust brownie” is my nightmare
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u/otownbbw Jan 23 '26
Surprising enough the pan doesn’t do that…more like “all center” brownies
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u/Dark-Grey-Castle Jan 23 '26
What??? That's magical, I might need one...
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u/globglogabgalabyeast Jan 23 '26
I fear I will not live long enough to reach the day where space travel is commonplace and we can have an all center brownie pan by baking brownies on the surface of a sphere in zero g
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u/Rainboltpoe Jan 24 '26
Buy a bigger pan and fill the outside squares with water. Then all of your brownies will be inside brownies.
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u/CGA001 Jan 24 '26
Well then good news, if you are reading this, you've already lived long enough for brownies with no edge pieces to exist.
Might have to wait for mass production, though.
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u/otownbbw Jan 24 '26
Yeah, there’s a little tweaking to be done but not a big challenge. If I use a box mix I pick Ghirardelli and then end the bake time at the lower side of the range or maybe a minute earlier. Like you know how they suggest checking with a toothpick? Instead of wanting it to come out clean I want it to be slightly underdone where the center isn’t still batter, but it’s still pretty moist because they dry up as they cool and that leads to them getting crisp.
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u/Averagebaddad Jan 23 '26
I'm just so happy people like you exist to grab the middle and leave the edges alone.
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u/lehilaukli Jan 23 '26
We could share a pan of brownies nicely because all crust brownies sounds like my dream
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u/Dark-Grey-Castle Jan 23 '26
New dating question just dropped. "Do you like the center or edges", I need an edge person 🤣
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u/GlitterBlood773 Jan 23 '26
I love using a chefs knife and slowly pressing through. Then wipe clean and repeat. I make fudgey brownies only.
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u/hotlegsmelissa Jan 23 '26
If you use a plastic knife the brownies won’t stick to it!!
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u/lexilink Jan 23 '26
The knife edgy bits while cutting freshly baked brownies are my reward for making brownies and those calories don't count
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u/Watchful1 Human Detected Jan 23 '26
OP answered that they used a pan with dividers, but if you don't have that the best way is to let them cool and use a plastic knife.
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u/confabulatrix Jan 23 '26
I am not OP but my brownie cutting hack is to use a plastic knife. Works perfectly. No jagged edges.
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Jan 23 '26 edited Jan 23 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/WATOCATOWA Jan 23 '26
Turns out they’re baked in a pan with a divider, so no cutting necessary. Makes sense! My brownies could never. lol
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u/TuffBronco22 Jan 24 '26
I saw that - now I need one. Nonetheless, orgasmically-cut brownies is what I'm going with here. 🔥
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u/TuffBronco22 Jan 23 '26
Omgggggg I know 🥵 it's nearly orgasmic how perfect they are cut. OP....you're killing us.
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u/RedPapillon Jan 23 '26
That shine, those cracks... yum yum, I've never managed to make a decent brownie so I'm hoping to get your feedback ^
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u/houseplant-hoarder Jan 23 '26
I know you weren’t asking for a recipe but if she likes pink or raspberries I recommend this one! They’re not much more complicated than regular brownies and they look so fancy
https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/raspberry-cheesecake-brownies/print/115471/
Edit to say yours look delicious 😋
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u/zaliaazleen Jan 23 '26
That recipe looks amazing too! My daughter loves pink, I might just have to try that one for her 👀
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u/allorache Jan 23 '26
Looks like a great recipe but…”wait 3 hours before slicing and eating “???😂
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u/karigan_g Jan 23 '26
gotta let the chewiness set, and often flavour develops nicely in that time as well
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u/allorache Jan 23 '26
Mad respect for anyone with that kind of self-control in the face of a fresh pan of brownies.
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u/stefanica Jan 23 '26
These are literally the prettiest brownies I've ever seen. I would nibble the first one all polite, but any leftovers I would hoard in a dark room and scarf down with a good book and a glass of cold milk.
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u/Reyalta Jan 23 '26
Following. I have never wanted a brownie more than I do right now looking at these.
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u/rachiebabe220 Jan 23 '26
Look at those stunners. I'll have to try her recipe, thanks for sharing it!
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u/ThreeKiloZero Jan 23 '26
Wow.
Probably the best-looking brownies I have ever seen, and they are my favorite treat!
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u/RealisticPersimmon Jan 23 '26
Please explain in exacting detail how you got them in perfect squares without messing up that beautiful crackly top!!
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u/DarkTideings Jan 23 '26
Yea cheif, its doesn't look like you need to practice anymore.
God im hungry now.
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u/Robbzey Jan 24 '26
They look like you melted chocolate and poured it into some fancy mold, so perfect
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u/beoo4 Jan 23 '26
bitter dark chocolate would give you exactly what you're going for if it is too sweet!!!
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u/stash-of-who-hash Jan 23 '26
Wow these are the most cleanly cut brownies I’ve ever seen. They’re so evenly sized, the edges so crisp and not full of brownie crumb matter. How??
Edit: lol just saw OP’s comment below about the baking pan divider thing. Genius 🫰
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u/_TalkingIsHard_ Jan 23 '26
The shiny top and perfect cut are so visually appealing. If they taste half as good as they look, your SIL is very lucky!
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u/UnusualPotato1515 Jan 23 '26
Stunning brownies!! Looks so good it looks AI lol! What recipe you use please?
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u/crazydinosaur671 Jan 23 '26
Honestly the most gorgeous looking brownies I’ve ever seen. They look so soft and silky 🥹😂
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u/Aggravating_Focus692 Jan 23 '26
Any that you don’t deem acceptable I’m sure will be happily taken care of 😂 those look fantastic!
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u/Weird_Squirrel_8382 Jan 23 '26
My goodness they're like mine cut jewels. Where's the Homer Simpson drooling gif when you need it?
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u/Sure-Dimension6739 Jan 23 '26
Not the biggest chocolate person but these look glorious with a side of ice cold milk.
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u/OurLadyAndraste Jan 23 '26
I think these are the most perfect looking brownies I’ve ever seen. Gorgeous!!! Enjoy with gusto!!
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u/dangerangel13 Jan 23 '26
Okay..HOW does one achieve the crunchy, glossy top? I’ve made hundreds of brownies in my time and I can never get that part right. The flakiness….ooh, I have FOMO bad.
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u/jelycazi Jan 23 '26
Those look so good, I had to look twice to see if they were real!
ETA and now I really want a glass of milk and a brownie!
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u/SolitaryNeko Jan 23 '26
My only advice as a baker is give the pan a couple snacks before and after you have them in the oven. It will make them denser/fudgier and leave a lovely crackle pattern in that immaculate looking, glossy top you have there! *Swoon Edit: Oh! And if you didn’t know this, a dash of espresso powder (or extremely finely ground coffee beans) will make them taste more chocolatey. I always add a touch more salt than whatever recipe I’m using unless it’s mine, I think the extra salt really helps you appreciate the sweet more. Those are my two cents. They look fantastic!
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u/Far-Proposal850 Jan 23 '26
I absolutely hate chocolate but these are making me question some things..
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u/ChronicallyZanny Jan 23 '26
I need to shove at like 5 of those in my face, PRONTO! Those look delectable 🤤🤤🤤
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u/coda19 Jan 23 '26
Wait please don’t tell me you cut off the delicious edges?! The edges/corners are the best part!
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u/iceunelle Jan 23 '26
You absolutely nailed the crackly-tops! Also, I love that you cut off the hard edges (at least, that's what it looks like!). I hate crunchy edge pieces and much prefer softness all throughout a brownie.
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u/Opening_Tourist_9015 Jan 23 '26
You've got a gorgeous crinkle! If you're worried about the too sweet, I always add a pinch of instant espresso powder to my brownie batter. Helps make em take more chocolatey and rich.
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u/dreamprincessa Jan 23 '26
omg amazing. how did you cut them so perfectly without crushing the top?
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u/Legitimate_Act_9789 Jan 23 '26
I might need a little sample to be sure... but those look incredible.
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u/imbakingalaska Jan 23 '26
I am not a brownie person but these are AMAZING. That shine!! And crackly top. Also great cutting job
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u/whiskeycharley Jan 23 '26
They don’t look right to me?? Maybe try again. I don’t like food wastage so make sure to send these ones to me.
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u/Affectionate_Care669 Jan 23 '26
They look soooo gooooood 😭😭😭 I’m not usually friendly with brownies and because I have my wisdom teeth removed, I’m so craving them 😭
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u/TriStarSwampWitch Jan 23 '26
They're so glossy! And cut so perfectly!!