Ganache Topped Truffle Brownies

These rich, Ganache Topped Truffle Brownies are the perfect Valentine’s Day treat. Or serve them up to your gal pals and celebrate Galentine’s Day!

Today I’m celebrating Galentine’s Day, a marvelous faux holiday. This day is all about celebrating, supporting, and encouraging the ladies in your life. Thanks to my blogger friends, Courtney of NeighborFood and Nancy of Gotta Get Baked, for organizing this group of terrific women to honor all our gal pals.

Ganache Topped Truffle Brownies

My mom liked just a little nibble of something sweet after dinner. We always had a bowl of candied nuts or chocolate bonbons on the kitchen counter. Just  a little a bite or two with a cup of coffee would satisfy her sweet tooth. You can see from whom I inherited this trait! She’d often eat a sliver of pumpkin pie for breakfast the day after Thanksgiving. So if I could, I would share these Ganache Topped Chocolate Brownies with her.

Celebrating the Life of My Mom

Today is usually set aside for a French Fridays with Dorie post. But instead, I’m here to honor my dear mom. She’s been in a memory unit for a number of years, and my dad joined her about a year and a half ago. She’d been plugging along, content and healthy for the most part. My dad spends his free time sitting with her, rubbing her head and just plain adoring her.

But last week my chic and talented mother had a stroke….and the end is near. My father, who has worshiped his wife of 55+ years, is devastated and on Wednesday, I flew out to be with them and my sister, Maddy.

A gifted artist and musician, my mother filled our home with the sonatas of Bach and covered our walls with paintings and other treasures from friends and family. She loved the clean lines of Danish modern and shied away from anything fussy or froufrou.

A fashionista at heart, she combed the sales racks for designer deals and shared the couture gems she’d unearth at the famous Aspen thrift shop with her girlfriends. My mom took comfort in cooking and dazzled our family with recipes from the New York Times Cookbook as well as handwritten recipe cards from her bridge club friends.

Spiritual and prayerful, she attended daily Mass, would pull out her rosary when needed (like when bears walked through our campsite at Glacier National Park!) and opened our home to those who needed a meal over the holidays.

Gretchen adored her children and grandchildren and often rocked my colicky babies so I could catch a few winks. She lived a long fruitful life, full of loyal friends, a loving family, laughter and song. A life lived to the fullest. Should we all be so lucky.

Memories of a Life Well Lived

Busy with three squirmy children…Mary, Katie and me

With our new pup, Rufus, and her four daughters…Maddy has joined the family

A beauty, inside and out…

Working on her calligraphy…

Cheers, dear Gretchen!

With her dearest friend, her sister, Martha…in Italy, Russia or Turkey…

Snuggling with her true love, my dad…a week before her stroke.

More Galentine’s Day Recipes:

• Ganache Topped Truffle Brownies from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Orange Yogurt Waffles from Savvy Eats
• Chocolate Honey Bombs from The Live-In Kitchen
• Brownie Batter Chocolate Tart from Melanie Makes
• Coeur a la Creme with Dark Chocolate Ganache and Strawberries from Heather’s Dish
• Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cream Puffs from The Redhead Baker
• Meyer Lemon Cranberry Scones from Girl in the Little Red Kitchen
• Chocolate Cheesecake from NeighborFood
• Strawberry Covered Dark Chocolate Truffles from Girl Versus Dough
• Cheesecake Milkshakes from Chocolate Moosey
• Campari and Passion Fruit Sorbet from Food Lust People Love
• Boston Cream Trifles from gotta get baked
• Grilled Cheese & Chocolate Sandwich with Ganache Dipping Sauce from Climbing Grier Mountain
• Red Velvet Chocolate Chip Cookies from Namely Marly
• Red Wine Ice Cream Floats from Mind Over Batter
• Wicked Waikiki Sour from Pineapple and Coconut
• Anise-Scented Ice Cream with Candied Fennel Seeds from girlichef
• Mini Heart-Shaped Chocolate Cakes with Raspberry Whipped Cream from A Cookie Named Desire
• Nutella Fudge with Raspberries from The Food Charlatan

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Ganache Topped Truffle Brownies

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A rich, decadent brownie recipe perfect for any occasion. Adapted from a Dan Smith and Stew McDonagh recipe

• Author: Liz Berg
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 20 mins
• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 8 servings
• Category: Dessert. Brownies
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Brownies:

• 2 eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 1/2 cup butter
• 3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
• 1/2 cup flour

Ganache:

• 3 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
• 1/4 cup heavy cream

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350º. Grease 8-inch cake pan. Line with parchment and grease top of parchment. Or line the pan with non-stick foil. Set aside.
2. Beat eggs and salt together with hand held electric mixer till frothy. Add sugar and beat till thick and pale yellow, 2 to 3 minutes. Add vanilla and beat till combined.
3. Microwave butter and chocolate for about a minute. Stir and microwave in 15-30 second increments till chocolate is melted and smooth. With mixer running, slowly add melted chocolate to egg mixture. Add flour and beat till just incorporated, less than a minute. Scrape down sides as necessary.
4. Bake 20 minutes till the center is barely set. Remove from oven and cool on rack. Make ganache.
5. Melt chocolate and cream in microwave, about one minute on high. Stir till smooth and chips are completely melted. Pour on cooled brownies. Let chill in fridge.
6. Before serving, place brownies in the freezer for at least 30 minutes for easier cutting. Let slices come to room temperature before serving.