Truffle Brownies

With a shortbread crust, truffle like brownie filling and ganache topping, these Truffle Brownies are one of the BEST brownies you’ll ever taste!

Truffle Brownies with a Shortbread Crust

Today, I’m guest posting for yet another dear foodie friend, Alice, from Hip Foodie Mom. So many of my food blogger friends are virtual buddies, but I’ve actually gotten to spend time with Alice at a couple of food blogger conferences. We were thrilled to dine together at the ultra chic Sitka & Spruce, when the IFBC along with Urban Spoon bused groups of bloggers to various Seattle restaurants.

Then, just in May, we met again in Miami where we were whisked to a water front manse to nosh on wine and cheese at an event hosted by Wisconsin Cheese. Alice is a sweet, generous soul whose blog just keeps getting better and better.

She has a savvy business sense, and I keep hoping some of it will rub off on me. Maybe at our next conference! I’ve whipped up these delightfully decadent Truffle Brownies for Alice today.

Photo courtesy of Wisconsin Cheese (Allie from Baking a Moment, me and Alice)

Amazing Truffle Brownies

I resurrected an old, yet utterly decadent, recipe for truffle brownies to share on her site. So please pop over to Hip Foodie Mom and say hello to my talented friend, Alice.

What Exactly are Truffles?

What do you think of when you hear truffles? Nowadays, most people don’t think of the black fungus, considered a delicacy, which is found in France. Instead, the rich chocolate coated truffles which vaguely resemble the pricy black mushrooms.

These truffle brownies are similar to the famous chocolate bonbons with their extremely rich filling and luscious ganache topping. Plus, there’s no need to roll balls of ganache and dip them in chocolate, a messy task!

More Truffle Desserts You’ll Love

If you need a break from chocolate, these Fresh Lemon Truffles look amazing! Peppermint Oreo Truffles are perfect for the holidays, but I wouldn’t wait until then to try these, and a Carribean Truffle Pie would hit the spot at a summer gathering.

Tips for Making Truffle Brownies:

If you’re new to baking, here are few pointers when it comes to making these layered truffle brownies.

• Start with room temperature ingredients, especially when you need to cream the butter. Eggs incorporate better when they’re not ice cold as well.
• I like to use the microwave to melt chocolate. I do this in 30 second increments, stopping and stirring before adding more time.

• When the chocolate appears to be almost all melted, it’s OK to stop as the residual heat will finish the job. This goes for melting chocolate with butter as well.
• If you don’t have a microwave, you can melt your chocolate over low heat in a saucepan, but it needs to be watched carefully and stirred frequently so the bottom does not burn.

• For the easiest removal and cutting, you can line your pan with non-stick foil. The foil will assist you in lifting the cooled brownies right out of the pan to cut. You can also use regular foil sprayed with a cooking spray like Pam.
• When it comes to mixing in the flour, only do so until the flour is just incorporated. Any longer than necessary will activate the gluten, making your dessert less tender.

• Chill the brownies after they come out of the oven. You’ll want the top to get a chance to set before pouring on the ganache.
• Also, let the ganache cool about 10 minutes before topping the brownies. The ganache will thicken slightly, but still be pourable.

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Truffle Brownies

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A rich brownie bar for all you chocolate fans!

• Author: Liz Berg
• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 27 minutes
• Total Time: 47 minutes
• Yield: 24 bars 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

For the crust:

• 2/3 cup brown sugar
• 2/3 cup butter, at room temperature
• 1 1/3 cup flour

For the brownie layer:

• 8 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
• ¾ cup (1½ sticks) butter
• 2 teaspoons espresso powder dissolved in 1 teaspoon boiling water, optional
• 1½ cups sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup flour
• ½ teaspoon salt

For the glaze:

• 6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
• 2 tablespoons butter
• ½ cup heavy cream

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350º. Grease 9 x 13 inch pan.
2. Cream the brown sugar and butter till light and fluffy. Slowly add flour and mix till blended. Pat into bottom of greased pan. Set aside.
3. Gently melt chocolate, butter (and espresso, if using) in microwave. Stir till smooth. Let cool slightly before adding sugar and vanilla. Then mix in eggs, one at a time. Stir in flour, and salt until just combined. Pour over crust.
4. Bake in middle of oven about 25-27 minutes. Remove from oven and immediately place in refrigerator.
5. Make glaze by gently heating chocolate, cream and butter in microwave till chocolate and butter are melted. Stir till smooth. Cool for about 10 minutes before spreading over brownies. Return to refrigerator. When chilled, cut into bars and serve.