[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Cookies, cookies, and more cookies. This week has been ridiculously sweet. Two cookie exchanges in a 48 hour period have filled my fridge with way too many tempting treats for one woman to handle. This year I opted out of making cookies and decided to bake my mom’s favorite brownies.
Even though the brownies aren’t particularly holiday-esque, she would only make them at Christmas time. I always wondered why this was the case and I finally figured out why…because they are dangerous. Very dangerous. I literally cannot. stop. eating. them.
You are officially warned.
Tri-Level Brownies
Recipe from Better Homes and Gardens Homemade Cookies Cook Book
Oatmeal Crust
- 1 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
- ½ cup all purpose flour
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- 6 tablespoons butter, melted
Brownie Layer
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup butter, melted
- 1 one-ounce square unsweetened chocolate, melted
- 1 egg
- 2/3 cup all purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- Add chopped walnuts if you want them but I prefer without
Frosting
- 1 one-ounce unsweetened chocolate
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 tablespoons hot water
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Stir together the first 4 dry ingredients. Mix in the melted butter and pat the mixture into an 11x 7 ½ inch pan. A 9×9 pan also works well. Bake for 10 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool.
For the brownie, combine the melted butter, melted chocolate, and granulated sugar in a medium bowl. Add the egg. In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, salt. Alternately add the flour mixture and the milk into the chocolate mixture. Add vanilla. Mix until everything is fully incorporated.
Pour the batter over the oatmeal crust. Bake for 25 minutes, or until when stuck with a toothpick, the toothpick comes out clean.
For the frosting, melt the unsweetened chocolate and butter together in a small saucepan over low heat. Remove from heat and stir in the powdered sugar and vanilla. Blend in the hot water, 1 tablespoon at a time. Add more as needed to make the frosting an almost pourable consistency. Frost the brownies and cut into 1 inch squares!
Yields 2 dozen bite-size brownies. If you need to make a bigger batch for say, a cookie exchange, times the recipe by 1.5 and bake it in a 9×13 pan.
Now go have a brownie![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
19 Responses
Hi Ms. Caitlin,
I love following your blog and seeing what sweet treat you’ve posted. I have been a follower of yours on FB as well as this blog since it’s beginning. Old enough to think I don’t need to add twitter though…so can’t say I will follow you there 😉 I do however spend too much time on Pinterest and am one of your fans. I recently was gifted a Stella and Dot bracelet and love the line! I have had my eye on the lapis 12 K gold drop earring-love anything and everything in that deep blue. Would love to wear those earring this holiday season. Now I am going to check my cupboard for oatmeal-’cause I think I see myself making your mom’s brownies some time soon!
Fondly, Kate
Caitlin– your blogging has been awesome! Congrats! I followed you on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest! Love the necklace– fingers crossed. xoxo
My brownies pale in comparison. I will not be offended if you don’t post my guest blog. I think I may have to bake these myself.
Hi there! I love the serenity drop earrings in green & the joyce chandelier earrings are to die for. What beauties!
I “like” teaspoon on Facebook (username: Lyndsey Gue) & I follow all your boards on Pinterest (username: lyndseyg17).
Oh my! Those look so delicious. Lovely giveaway also. I adore the Fox ring too. Thanks! 🙂
I follow you on Twitter too (roomofmyown)
I follow you on Pinterest (aroomofmyown)
I like you on Facebook (Amber H)
Woah. I’m glad these were nowhere to be found on Saturday.
Incredible brownies! I like the Madeline Pearl necklace I also follow you on facebook and pinterest
I love the Contessa Jade necklace in Monica’s shop!
I just followed you on FB as well!
And Twitter (Heidi_Nichols)
…and on Pintrest as well. I just found this blog and love it. Thanks!
First, yum! Second, great giveaway! The Olivia Bib necklace is on my wishlist this year!! 🙂
Liked on FB! 🙂
Following you on Twitter! (MrsS07)
And I follow via Pinterest as well! Thanks for the chance!
I going with oatmeal is good for cholestral so these brownies must be healthier.