Brownies with Chocolate Topping

Star Q

i.  A Matter of Management

ii.  Pre-U Raya Open House

I'm not good at making brownies, I must confess.  But when my sister called saying that she and her family of eight were coming over for Raya, I immediately thought of making these brownies.  These are quite different from the ones I have made before.  These ones are softer and moist while the ones before were a bit crunchier and crispier around the edges!

Page One's Bars & Brownies mentioned that I could get 20 bars out of this batch.  However, I managed to get 24!

• 225g AP flour
• 2 tbs unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt (I omitted this because of the butter I used)
• 250g butter, softened
• 200g sugar (I used caster)
• 4 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 2 tbs milk
• 1/2 tsp vanilla essence

Frosting :

• 125g milk chocolate chips (I used chocolate bars!)
• 60g butter
• 2 tbs milk
• 150g icing sugar

Preheat oven to 180 C.  Mix the flour, cocoa and baking powder in a medium bowl.  Beat the butter and sugar in a large bowl until creamy.  Add the eggs, beating until just blended.  Mix in the dry ingredients, milk and vanilla until well blended.  Spread the mixture evenly in a greased baking pan (I used a 20 x 20-cm pan) and bake for 35 -45 minutes or until firm to the touch.  Cool completely in the pan.

For the frosting, melt the chocolate chips and butter with the milk in a double over bately simmering water.  Remove from the heat and beat in the icing sugar.  Spread the frosting over the brownie base.  Let stand for 30 minutes, or until set.  Cut into squares.

Note :  I had difficulty making the frosting because when I added the sugar, everything clumped together.  Continued beating didn't end in a smooth result.  I took small spoonfuls and used a fork to smooth the topping on top of the cake.  Frosting experts, share your thoughts, please :-)