Chocolate Brownies With Orange Cream Cheese Frosting

Total Time: 49 mins Preparation Time: 25 mins Cook Time: 24 mins

Ingredients

• nonstick vegetable oil cooking spray
• 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 ounces chocolate, chopped (bittersweet or semisweet)
• 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
• 10 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 large eggs
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, room temperature
• 2/3 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature (unsalted)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons finely grated orange peel
• 1/2 cup roasted pistachios or 1/2 cup toasted sweetened flaked coconut or 1/2 cup untoasted sweetened flaked coconut

Recipe

• 1 set oven rack in lower middle position; preheat to 325°f.
• 2 spray 9 x 13-inch baking pan with nonstick spray.
• 3 press 18x12-inch sheet aluminum foil over bottom and up long sides of pan, leaving overhang on each long side. (this helps to lift the brownies out of the pan with ease).
• 4 spray foil with nonstick spray.
• 5 whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in small bowl.
• 6 stir both chocolates and 10 tablespoons butter in medium saucepan over medium-low heat until melted and smooth; remove from heat.
• 7 whisk sugar and vanilla, then eggs into chocolate mixture.
• 8 whisk until glossy and smooth, about 1 minute.
• 9 add dry ingredients and whisk just to blend.
• 10 pour batter into prepared pan.
• 11 bake until tester inserted into center comes out with some moist crumbs attached, about 22-24 minutes.
• 12 cool completely in pan on rack.
• 13 using electric mixer, beat room temperature cream cheese and next 3 ingredients in medium bowl until smooth.
• 14 spread cream cheese frosting over brownies.
• 15 sprinkle nuts or coconut over.
• 16 do ahead chocolate brownies can be made 1 day ahead.
• 17 cover and chill.
• 18 using foil overhang for handles, remove brownies from pan.
• 19 cut into 18 squares; serve cold or at room temperature.
• 20 **cook time does not include cooling completely after baking or chilling in refrigerator before cutting and serving.