Brownie Bites for Valentine's Day

If you're thinking about making some homemade goodies for Valentine's 

Day but don't know what....something that's fairly easy and not too time 

consuming... something that is rich and delicious and chocolatey...

 then I've got a fantastic idea for you - Brownie Bites!!

I found this idea in a cookbook called Sprinkles!  It's a wonderful

cookbook that's full of fun recipes using - you guessed it - sprinkles! 

When I saw this recipe I had to make them!

You basically just make the brownie mixture, bake it in a mini 

muffin or mini brownie pan, let cool, dip tops in melted chocolate 

then decorate! After decorating mine I placed them in mini cupcake 

liners for a pretty presentation!

I created these yummies with this fantastic pan! The pan is wonderful 

for baking individual brownies and has removable squares that lift out 

for easy release. It's also nonstick and easy to clean!

 Love it!

The Brownie recipe that I used comes from a blog called ambrosia,

and it's the perfect indulgence for Valentine's Day!! The chocolate in 

these brownies comes from cocoa only -no melted chocolate! But 

don't let that put you off!! These were some of the best brownies I 

have ever baked!! They are rich and fudgy and exceptionally good!!

CHEWY COCOA BROWNIES

Adapted from ambrosia 

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups (2 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter

2 1/2 cups sugar (yep!)

1 3/4 cups cocoa powder

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

4 eggs

1 cup all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

2/3 cup walnuts, finely chopped (optional)

(I added pecans because that's what I had at home)

2/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips (optional)

(I used mini semisweet chips)

12 oz. semisweet chocolate

4 teaspoons vegetable oil

assorted sprinkles such as nonpareils,

dragees, royal icing flowers, mini candies,

pop rocks or fancy salts.

Directions

Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat the oven to 325 

degrees F.Lightly butter a mini brownie pan or a mini muffin pan - 

or use a baking spray.

Combine the butter, sugar and cocoa powder in a large microwave 

safe bowl. Heat the cocoa powder mixture in your microwave in thirty 

second intervals, making sure to stir, until the butter has melted and the 

mixture is fairly smooth.

Stir in the vanilla extract with a wooden spoon, followed by the eggs,

 stirring them in one at a time. In a small bowl, quickly whisk together 

the flour and salt. Add the flour mixture to the chocolate mixture, 

mixing just until the flour has been incorporated. Stir in the nuts and 

chocolate chips if using.

Scoop the brownie batter into the prepared pan using a medium cookie 

scoop. Bake the brownies for approximately 18 minutes or until a 

toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean. Remove to a 

wire rack to cool for 10 minutes then remove from pan to cool completely.  

Melt 12 oz semisweet chocolate with the 4 teaspoons vegetable oil.

Dip tops of the brownies into the melted chocolate, then decorate

with sprinkles. Makes 3 1/2 dozen.

These beauties would be perfect to wrap up in a pretty box and give

to someone you love!! Happy Valentine's Day everyone!! xo!!