Mascarpone Tart with Cranberry Cider Compote & Pecan Crust

  This Thanksgiving is a little strange. Back in the day, I'd be going to one of my grandparents' house and feasting with my family and crazy sisters. But now there's only one set of grandparents, and this year half of my family isn't even going there/doing anything for the holiday. I could be making the trek, but instead I'm going to my significant's Thanksgiving...

  I guess that's the thing you do when you've been dating for a spell, but it's my first holiday away from "home", if you will.

  I'm torn between feeling nostalgic, wanting to impress people with a tasty dish, and doing my best to get into the holiday spirit.

  A couple years ago we had our family Christmas Eve in our then mobile home while my parents were building a new house. I made this tart for it. It's a good memory, everyone sitting in the living room admiring presents while I was in the kitchen slathering homemade cranberry sauce onto a chilled mascarpone tart.

  Annalise of Completely Delicious (great blog, been following it for years) calls this a lovely alternative to the classic Pumpkin Pie for a Thanksgiving dessert, or perhaps an nice accompaniment.  I think it does well on both the Thanksgiving and Christmas table, the mascarpone and berries are a complimentary refreshment after a particularly heavy meal.

  The process for me (with some speed chillings in the freezer) took about 3 hours, but if you can I really recommend doing this over the period of a couple days so you don't spend so much time waiting on it and get the best tart you can. I'm a busy bee these days and got a rare Wednesday off to fiddle around with this, so I did a more compact recipe-making (along with 8 zillion loads of hand-washed dishes).

That being said, I made this the day before Thanksgiving with a head cold, so it's not a difficult recipe by any means.

  If you were to divide it up, I'd say do the cranberry sauce and bake off the pecan crust on one day (so they have time to cool and be set), then make the filling and sugared cranberries (if you're feeling so decoratively inclined, they're optional) the next.

  The sauce smells amazing while it simmers, and it's packed with spices, brown sugar, orange zest, and apple cider (do local if you can!).

  

  My tart pan was a little smaller than what Annalise was using, so I ended up going a little heavier on the pecan crust than I intended to. But, it will still taste amazing. The crust comes together quickly in a food processor, make sure your toasted pecans are cooled off enough so they don't melt your butter.

  And because I'm extra, I made sugared cranberries and additional toasted pecans for garnish. They're not hard to make at all, they just take a bit to dry before you can toss them in sugar. But since I was waiting on 2 other things to chill, I had a bit of down time to play with. Even regular cranberries are also a nice topper. If you're interested in trying your hand at them, check out Everyday Annie for her succinct and thorough tutorial.

  I'll miss my family tomorrow, but I'm happy to be bringing a little piece of the Brandts with me in this conveniently aesthetically-pleasing tart. Happy Thanksgiving all <3

Mascarpone Tart with Cranberry Cider Compote & Pecan Crust

Yield: one large tart (if using anything smaller than an 11-inch tart pan, note that you'll have some leftover crust/filling)

Ingredients for the compote:

• 1 (12-oz bag, 340 grams) cranberries, fresh or frozen
• 2/3 cup light or dark brown sugar
• 3/4 cup apple cider
• Zest of 1 orange
• A few grates of nutmeg
• 1 cinnamon stick (I didn't have time to get whole spices, ground will do in a pinch)
• Dash of ground ginger

Ingredients for the crust:

• 1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg
• 1 cup pecans, toasted (be sure they're cool!)
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
• 1 large egg yolk
• 2-3 tablespoons ice cold water

Ingredients for the filling:

• 8 oz mascarpone cheese, chilled
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream

Directions:

To make the compote, in a medium saucepan combine cranberries, brown sugar, apple cider, orange zest, nutmeg and cinnamon stick. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until cranberries have burst and sauce is thickened, about 10-15 minutes. Let cool completely. (be sure to remove the cinnamon stick before topping the tart)

In the bowl of a food processor, combine the flour, sugar, salt, nutmeg and pecans. Add the butter and pulse a few times until the pieces of butter are broken up. Combine the egg yolk and 2 tablespoons of ice water and add to the food processor while it is running. Pulse until the mixture starts to come together (the processor will make a loud sound).

Press the mixture into a large greased tart pan. Chill in freezer for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Line chilled crust with greased foil and fill with pie weights or dried rice or beans. Bake for 20 minutes, then remove weights and foil and bake until barely golden brown, about 20 minutes more. Let cool completely.

In a medium bowl with a hand-held mixer, beat the mascarpone cheese, sugar and vanilla until smooth and creamy. In a large bowl, beat heavy cream to soft peaks (if your handheld mixer comes with a whisk attachment, use it). With mixer on low, slowly spoon mascarpone cream mixture into whipped cream until incorporated and smooth. Spread onto cooled crust.

Top with cranberry compote (you'll likely have extra, save it to serve on the side). Garnish as desired. Keep in fridge.

Sources: adapted from Completely Delicious

Just a Li'l Wedding Cake

  Emma and I didn't have the smoothest of sisterhoods. Remarkably different personalities and behavior traits when we were young caused a good amount of clashing—especially when we shared a room. Her walls were always painted black, mine had every color under the sun. She liked the dark light-blocking curtains, I liked lava lamps and was outside as soon as the sun was up. God, I bet she hated me for that.

  But something weird happened when she graduated and left home. I started getting letters and emails from her--and then when I got a phone, texts and birthday calls. Maybe it was the 4 hour distance between us, or that we both matured remarkably. Then somehow, I found out just how similar we were. Every messy situation with a boyfriend, every frustrating math problem, and mental breakdown about my future...she was always there. I started seeing my sister as a friend, and she is still the first one I call with good news, bad news, or what have you.

  So we've had our ups and downs, and the in betweens. But my family is something that I have grown to be very thankful for. They've seen me through 2 different colleges, breakups, moving across the country for 2.5 months, and so many indecisive breakdowns. Getting to celebrate my sister's marriage with them was priceless. 

  Making the cake, however, was incredibly daunting.

  I tested, I tasted, I drowned in caramel and butter and chocolate. When everything was as prepared as it could be and in the freezer, I made myself a humongous fresh salad and watched Netflix. Fresh veggies and good dressing are exceptional after hours of being surrounded by nothing but cake and frosting.

  I'm so pleased that my little test cake went so well. If you're wondering about my sources for all of this, it's basically all Martha Stewart with a smattering of Sweetapolita and Everyday Annie.

  I pinterested and googled all things "semi-naked cake" and how-to's on tiering, frosting, freezing, assembling...because I've never done anything so massive in my life. But with some wooden dowels, many chillings in the fridge, and my brave/strong father carrying the massive beast out to the wedding tent...it all came together somehow.

  With an audible sigh of relief, I had done it. Caramel from scratch, frosting from scratch, cake from scratch, mocha chocolate beer from Southern Tier...it all came together. Emma's sweet tooth for all things salted caramel and Mercedes' love of all things coffee/stout were united into one beautiful masterpiece.

  I had so many people pull me aside with nothing but praise for this non-traditional (and very rich) treat.

  And, you know, that's all great and well and good...but that look up there, on my sister's face? That's what makes me so proud that I was a part of any of it. Her happiness has been long awaited and is much deserved. And I love her and her sweet lady so much.

  Happy cake-ing, and marriage-ing <3

PC for all Mercedes'/Emma photos goes to Cumberland Weddings

Roasted Tomato Basil Soup

  There's something funny about this past August. Things were all topsy-turvy, and somehow things were also just the same. Right now it's averaging 70 degrees and things are weird and chilly in my drafty li'l apartment.

  I came home last Sunday with an armload of fresh tomatoes from my man's mom's garden. God I love fresh produce. I love the smell, the taste, the everything. Maybe I'll have a garden one day when I'm a real adult with a real yard. 

  But for now, I mooch off of other people's labor. And fresh tomatoes are what I eat all summer long.

  That being said--I still can't eat 3 lbs. of tomatoes in the short time window in which they remain fresh.

  So some went towards a fresh mozzarella, corn and tomato salad. The rest (which included a lively blend of orange cherry and red romas) were roasted and boiled into this delicious, slightly time-consuming, but totally worth it soup. With a grilled cheese or some avocado toast in hand, you've got a real delightful little meal on your hands. And with some to spare for the freezer for those chillier months. 

Roasted Tomato Basil Soup

Yield: 10-12 servings

• 3 lbs. ripe tomatoes, halved with seeds scooped out (if using some cherry tomatoes, just roast 'em whole)
• ¼ cup plus 2 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 tbsp. kosher salt
• 1½ tsp. black pepper
• 2 tbsp. butter
• 2 cups chopped onion
• 6 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
• ½ tsp. red pepper flakes
• 1 (28 oz.) can whole tomatoes
• 2 cups fresh basil leaves, torn
• 1 tsp. fresh thyme leaves (or dried)
• 4 cups low-sodium chicken stock
• 1/2-3/4 cup heavy cream, if desired
• fresh mozzarella chunks for serving, if desired

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400˚ F.  Combine the tomato halves, ¼ cup of olive oil, salt and pepper in a large bowl; toss well to combine.  Spread the tomato halves out on a large baking sheet.  Roast the tomatoes for 45 minutes.

In a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat, combine the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil with the butter and heat until the butter is melted.  Add the onions, garlic and red pepper flakes to the pot and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly soften, about 7-10 minutes.  Add in the canned tomatoes, roasted tomatoes, basil, thyme and chicken stock.  Bring the mixture to a boil.  Lower the heat and simmer, uncovered, 40 minutes.

Use an immersion blender to puree the soup until completely smooth.  (Alternatively, you can use a blender or food processor.  If you do, be sure to vent the steam and be very careful not to spill the hot liquid!) Return the soup to the stove and add the heavy cream. Heat on medium-low until well incorporated and warmed through. Enjoy!

Sources: adapted from Everyday Annie, originally from Baking Blonde

Chocolate Stout Cake with Caramel Swiss Meringue Buttercream

  I'm tired. I got my wisdom teeth yanked, I work 6 days a week, and I helped my significant other with moving all the things last week. I have approximately zero social energies. Things have just been one thing after the other here, and this lil cake is right in the thick of it.

  I have the honor of creating my eldest sister's wedding cake. Yes, this is an arduous task, but so far I have had such a fun time researching for this. What you see pictured is what will be the top tier of a 3-story semi-naked caked.

  This rich little beaut packs a punch. The cake's ever-lasting moisture is accomplished by a glorious mixture of fancy Irish butter, sour cream, and an imperial chocolate stout from the brewery Southern Tier (as one of the brides-to-be loves a good, dark beer). The cake is the perfect texture, in my humble opinion. It's dense, but not so dense that it would be mistaken for a brownie (especially not at room temperature).

  The frosting is more for my sister's taste. Neither she or her fiancé are big frosting fans, hence the naked-cake-look. So I decided to steal my parent's stand mixer and tackle the elusive but incredibly tasty swiss meringue buttercream. SMB on its own is superb, but I've been making my sister small batches of caramel as gifts ever since I learned how to melt sugar. Naturally, I whipped up a large batch of salted caramel and poured a hefty amount into the frosting for flavor.

  Then, dear gawd, the research I did on how to tier/what dowels to purchase/how the heck you even frost  and divide layers evenly...let's just say my boyfriend can easily attest to the hours I spent poring over youtube videos and articles on my laptop.

  Nerd for life.

  Unfortunately, the final stacking and tackling of the cake is yet to come. And possibly even some spun sugar...? Who knows!  Either way, the best way to finish this little taste cake off was with a generous drizzle of ganache and a smattering of coarse sea salt to compliment the sweetness.

  And whooda thunk that Martha Stewart would have all of my bases covered in one simple google search for flavors?  Crazy, man.

  I dare say, I think it's going to come out just fine. And if you don't take my word for it, try this baby cake out for yourself, and then just see if you can keep your fork out of it.

Chocolate Stout Cake with Salted Caramel Swiss Meringue Buttercream

Yield: one 4-layer, 6-inch cake

Ingredients for the caramel:

• 1 cup heavy cream
• 2 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
• 1/3 cup water
• 1 teaspoon coarse salt
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 stick unsalted butter, cut into tablespoons at room temperature

Ingredients for the cake:

• 2 sticks unsalted butter, plus more for pans
• 3/4 cup Dutch-process cocoa powder, plus more for pans
• 1 cup stout or porter
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 1/2 tablespoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon coarse salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp + 2 tsp sour cream (sorry for the weird amounts, had to cut 1/3 cup in half)

Ingredients for the frosting:

• 5 large, fresh egg whites 
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, cut into cubes and cool, but not cold
• 1/2 tablespoon + 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt
• 1 cup of cooled caramel sauce

Ingredients for the ganache:

• 8 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate (56 to 61 percent cacao), coarsely chopped
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons butter, room temperature, cut into small pieces

Directions:

First, prepare the caramel sauce, so it has time to set and cool at room temp. 

Heat cream in a small saucepan over low (alternatively, microwave it for about 30 seconds, until warm). In a medium saucepan, stir together sugar, corn syrup, and 1/3 cup water; cook over medium-high, without stirring, until mixture is dark amber in color, about 15 minutes.

Remove from heat; carefully pour in cream (mixture may splatter) and stir until smooth. Reduce heat to medium and cook until a candy thermometer reads 238 degrees, about 2 minutes.
Pour mixture into a medium heatproof bowl; stir in salt and vanilla. Let cool about 15 minutes, then stir in butter, 1 tablespoon at a time. Let cool completely.

To prepare the cake, in a large saucepan over medium, bring stout and butter to a simmer. Remove from heat; whisk in cocoa powder until smooth. Let cool completely. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter two 6-inch round cake pans. Line bottoms of pans with parchment; butter parchment. Dust pans with cocoa powder; tap out any excess.

Whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat eggs and sour cream and vanilla until combined. Add stout mixture and beat on low speed until combined; then add flour mixture and beat until combined. Fill each pan halfway with batter (you will have some extra batter, sorry not sorry).

Bake until top springs back when lightly touched and a toothpick inserted into centers comes out with just a few crumbs attached, 35 to 45 minutes. Transfer pans to a wire rack and let cool 10 minutes, then turn cakes out of pans, invert right-side up, and let cool completely. Wrap cakes in plastic wrap and let chill in fridge overnight. (this isn't mandatory, but it does make the cakes much easier to handle).

For the frosting, wipe the bowl of an electric mixer with paper towel and lemon juice or white vinegar, to remove any trace of grease (it's a good idea to wipe down anything you'll be using for mixing the meringue). Combine egg whites and sugar in mixer bowl, and simmer over a pot of water (not boiling), whisking constantly but gently, until temperature reaches 140°F (or if you don't have a candy thermometer, until the sugar has completely dissolved and the egg whites are hot).

With whisk attachment of mixer, begin to whip until the meringue is thick, glossy, and the bottom of the bowl feels neutral to the touch (this can take up to 10 minutes or so). *Don't begin adding butter until the bottom of the bowl feels neutral, and not warm.

Switch over to paddle attachment and, with mixer on low speed, add butter cubes, one at a time, until incorporated, and mix until it has reached a silky smooth texture (if curdles, keep mixing and it will come back to smooth). *If mixture is too runny, refrigerate for about 15 minutes and continue mixing with paddle attachment until it comes together. Add vanilla and salt, continuing to beat on low speed until well combined. Once everything is smooth and fluffy, add in 1 cup of caramel sauce and mix until combined.

To assemble, slice the cake layers in half with a serrated knife and level the tops, if necessary. Stack and frost your cake as desired. 

To make the ganache, place chocolate in a medium bowl. In a small saucepan over medium, bring cream just to a boil, then pour over chocolate and let stand 1 minute. Stir until smooth and shiny, then stir in butter. Let stand 10 minutes before using. Drizzle over the top of the cake and sprinkle with coarse sea salt, if desired.  Best served at room temperature.

Sources: frosting help from Sweetapolita; cake, ganache, and caramel from Martha Stewart

Cinny Buns

  Cut, wrap, stamp, repeat.  Spending 5-6 hours every day watching everyone else around me bake, this is what I would wake up at 6:00 AM to do.  Package the goods.

  Everyone has to start somewhere, obviously, especially in any kind of kitchen.  I didn't have much on my resume, besides some gaping semesters in my post high school career and some caramel apple and fudge experience.

  This went on for weeks, in the dead of winter.  Until one day, when my manager was working on breads, she turned around and asked if I'd like to swap places and roll out her cinnamon roll dough for her.  Is that something I was familiar with?  Oh hellzzzz yas.

  I had that massive roll buttered, cinnamoned, and sugared in record time.  I set them up on their tray and into the proofer they went.  Little trades like this continued, my manager watching from just behind at the packing station.  I got such a sense of pride and accomplishment coming home after those days.  Sometimes I was so sore, especially after spending an hour rolling out tiny dinner rolls by hand two at a time.  But I was so happy to be moving up.

  Pretty soon that was my every day.  Rice krispies, breads, brownies...in massive volumes.  I loved it.  The thing is, you can love the thing, but sometimes business gets in the way.  I got some powerful insights on how owners try to press their convoluted ideas on their employees. I saw how much crap general managers have to put up with when things are poorly run.  That's why when I was presented with the bakery manager position...I ran away to university with my tail between my legs.

  I suppressed that side of myself for so long that school year.  3 more semesters in I practically had an internal explosion. I needed outttt.

  I only know how to gob cream cheese frosting on warm, gooey rolls. I'm rubbish at working up the motivation to write papers and study for exams. I made myself physically sick with the trying of it.

  I mean, look at these guys, can you blame me?

  So you think the answer would be easy...get back into a bakery.  I did, I tried, and somehow I failed. Or rather, it failed me. Business, again. People, again. Those two things ruin what should just be a happy cinnamon roll.

  So, I don't know. I run around a tiny bar/restaurant. And every day I do that I learn more about myself and other people. Far more than I did at university. I've been trying to remind myself to be more patient, mostly with myself. I got see Joy the Baker some weeks ago again, and it's been five years since our last encounter, but it was just the sort of refreshing experience I needed right now <3

  I'm heading into spring/summer a much different person than I was at either of those bakeries, but I'm taking my love of cinnamon rolls with me.

Cinnamon Buns
Yield: 8 rolls

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup lukewarm water
• 2 1/4 tsp active or instant dry yeast
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup buttermilk
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 2 1/2 - 4 1/2 cups flour

For the filling:

• 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
• 1 cup sugar
• 4 tbsp ground cinnamon
• 2 tbsp cornstarch
• 1/3 cup unsalted butter melted

For the frosting:

• 1 cup (8 oz) cream cheese
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• Splash of milk

Directions:

In the bowl of a freestanding mixer fitted with the dough hook (or a large bowl) add water, yeast and 1tbsp of the sugar. Let stand for 10 minutes until the yeast starts to froth. In a small bowl, mix together the buttermilk, egg, and oil, then pour into the yeast along with the rest of the sugar and mix until combined. Stir through 2 1/2 cups of the flour plus the salt, then gradually add the rest of the flour whilst mixing. Knead for 5 minutes in a mixer or about 10 minutes by hand on a lightly floured surface, until the dough comes away from the bowl/does not stick to your fingers. You may not need to add all 4 1/2 cups of flour. 

Place dough in an oiled bowl, cover and let proof in a warm place for 2 hours, until doubled in size.

In a small bowl mix together the filling ingredients except the butter and set aside.

Roll the dough out to about 12 x 16 inches and brush with melted butter, making sure to leave 1 inch around the sides. Sprinkle filling mixture over the butter. Tightly roll the dough from the shorter side (to make thicker buns) and pinch the seam together to stop the filling from spilling out. Score dough every 1.5 inches to make 8 buns and slice through (I like to use thread for this instead of a knife). 

Place buns in a lined brownie ban, or two round pans, it doesn't matter if the buns are touching each other. Wrap pan in cling film and refrigerate overnight and/or up to 16 hours. (If you'd like to make these on the same day, just proof the buns for 2 hours in a warm place, until they have have puffed up.) 

If doing the overnight step, the next day fill a jar or bread pan with boiling water and place on the bottom shelf of the oven. Put the buns on the top shelf, close oven, and let proof for half hour. Take the water and the buns out of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. 

Bake for 30 minutes, until browned and the filling is bubbling.

Let buns cool and prepare topping. With a stand or electric hand mixer, mix all of the ingredients together until smooth and runny. Pour over buns once slightly cooled. Best eaten the day they are baked, but lasts up to 3 days.

Sources: adapted from M Bakes

One-Bowl Cocoa Brownies

  It had been a bad day.  If I remember rightly, there was rain and cold and the dreariness of another schoolwork-filled day.

  Mid-afternoon, I shoved aside algebra and flipped onto my back, staring at the delicately painted ceiling of our family room.  Hands digging into the plush green carpet.

  I let out a sigh.  Mom was pottering about in the kitchen, one of her least favorite places to be.  I began to rack my head for what we had to work with in the pantry, I'd started to get pretty good at throwing together last minute meals.  Sometimes that meant bean dip, or a makeshift pot pie consisting mostly of freezer-burned peas.  Or a kick-ass grilled cheese with a few stray cans of tomato soup.

  As I began thinking about whether or not we had enough sandwich bread to make everyone grilled cheese, mom came and set on the steps in front of me.

  "I think we need brownies. Warm. With ice cream."

  My mom and I are different people, but many times we are very much on the same wavelength.  That was the first time I'd ever had a brownie fresh from the oven, a simple scoop of vanilla on top.  Each bite made every bit of grayness in that day seem like sheer perfection.  Cold ice cream just chilling the steaming hot brownie to an edible temperature, its creaminess alleviating the rich chocolate.  

  A true love was born that afternoon.  I've been obsessed with brownies (good brownies) ever since.  When the craving hits, as it does my mother, really nothing else will do.

  Soon after, I began experimenting.  My mom had a trusty recipe, but she wanted one that would give her more of a crackle-y, shiny meringue finish on top.  But the brownie itself couldn't be too fudge-y, or everyone just felt a little sick afterwards.

  I made lots of brownies at home.  Fudgey, cakey, and crackley.  All were devoured happily.

  Thinking back on those family-oriented afternoon dessert sessions makes me a little nostalgic.  When my mood is low and inspiration is lacking, I often find myself reverting back to one of mankind's basic necessities.  A good chocolate brownie.

  When your apartment is slightly in shambles and your kitchen is only so big, it's hard to take on big baking projects.  I used to laminate pastry dough and make 4 layer cakes.  Now, I do my best to limit dishes and avoid anything requiring an expensive stand mixer.  It saddens me sometimes, but I like to view this part of my life as a challenge.  I'm providing for myself, and anything I produce in this tiny kitchen is a feat in itself.  But it must always be good, and worth my time.

  And this, this crackle-y crusted, just the right amount of fudge-y one-pot brownie, is entirely worth your time.  Served warm or cold, it's sure to please.  And on this day of celebrating women, I'd like to thank my mowm for teaching me to find happiness in the gray, and how to take delight in the little things.  She has always been a great provider, not just to our stomachs, but also to our psyches.

One-Bowl Cocoa Brownies

Yield: one 8x8 inch pan, about 12-16 brownies

Ingredients:

• 12 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 2/3 cup cocoa powder
• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Heaping 1/2 cup chocolate chunks (optional)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8x8 or 9x9 inch square baking pan and line with parchment paper. Grease the parchment and set aside.

Set a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat and melt the butter until hot and bubbly (but not browning). Next, add the granulated sugar and vanilla. Stir well with a wire whisk for about a minute (really go at it, this will create that flaky layer!). Turn off heat. Then, whisk in the eggs one at a time, beating very well after each addition. Remove from heat.

Whisk in the cocoa powder until combined. Add the flour and salt, stir/fold in well with a wooden spoon until the flour is fully incorporated, but do not beat. Add the chocolate chunks (if using) and stir gently to fold them into the batter.

Pour batter into the previously prepared baking pan and smooth out. Bake at 350 degrees F for 25-40 minutes. A toothpick or sharp knife inserted into the center should come out with a few moist crumbs attached. If there's still raw brownie batter on the toothpick, give it a few more minutes. Cool completely, or at least 20 minutes before serving.

Remove parchment paper (with brownies) from the pan. Peel away the parchment paper and cut the brownies into serving size pieces. Store cooled leftovers in an airtight container.

Sources: heavily adapted from Good Life Eats