Ronald Reagan’s Brownies

For the next 10 days, I’m shining the spotlight on Brownies - from old favorites to avant garde delights. Forgive me for not offering the usual photos with these previously tested recipes, but I would be a chunky monkey if I baked more than a week’s worth of Brownies! As this week marks US President Obama’s second-term inauguration, I’ll start the series by tipping my cap to a very likable American president. Rumour has it that he was thick and rich - just like these excellent Brownies!

Ronald Reagan’s Brownies:

To Prepare the Bottom Layer:

2-½ squares (2-½ oz. or 70 g) unsweetened chocolate 
½ c. unsalted butter
1 tsp. instant coffee
Dash of salt 
½ tsp. vanilla
1 c. granulated sugar
2 large eggs
½ c. all-purpose flour
1-½ c. chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 deg. F. Lower oven rack to ⅓ from bottom position. Grease a 9x9-in. baking pan. Dust with sifted cocoa and set aside. In medium saucepan or microwave-safe container, partially melt chocolate with unsalted butter (See Index for How to Melt Chocolate). Stir until fully melted. Add instant coffee and salt. Remove from heat and stir in sugar, cooling slightly. 

Beat eggs well in small bowl. Stir in a little of the warm chocolate, combining well before returning to sweetened chocolate mixture. Stir in flour and walnuts. Spoon into prepared pan and set aside as you prepare the top layer.

To Prepare the Top Layer:

8 squares (8 oz. or 225 g) semi-sweet chocolate
½ c. unsalted butter
2 tbsp. granulated sugar
½ c. whipping cream (heavy cream) 
Dash of salt
1 tsp. instant coffee
1 tsp. vanilla
4 egg yolks plus 1 whole egg

Melt chocolate and butter as above. Remove from heat, stirring in sugar, cream, salt, coffee, and vanilla. Beat eggs well in small bowl. Stir in a little of the warm chocolate, combining well before returning to sweetened chocolate mixture. Spoon and smooth over bottom layer. Bake 40-to-45 min., until toothpick poked into center comes out dry. Cool thoroughly on rack before slicing. 

Tomorrow: Nutritious and delicious Pumpkin Brownies.