Double Chocolate Brownie Bars

I made these Double Chocolate Brownie Bars yesterday and they are delicious!!! They are rich, fudgey, and have plenty of chocolate. They are also so simple and quick to make. This recipe makes a nice big pan, although it could easily be halved for a smaller batch. I got 32 brownies out of my 9x13 inch pan, but these brownies could definitely be made bigger. I wouldn't recommend cutting them any smaller than that, because then everyone will want to eat at least two of them. These brownies are so rich, they don't even need an icing, although you could always add them for more chocolate! They would also make an excellent base for ice cream and chocolate sauce, or whipped cream and chopped nuts. Whatever way you serve them, they sure won't be around for long!

Double Chocolate Brownie Bars
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or hard margarine
2 cups (one 12-ounce package) semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided
1 1/2 cups granulated (white) sugar
1 1/4 cups all-purpose (plain) flour
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350◦F. Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan, or line with parchment paper for easy removal and cutting.
Place butter and 1 cup of chocolate chips into a large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on HIGH (100% power) for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes, or until chips are melted and mixture is smooth when stirred.
Add remaining ingredients except for nuts and chocolate chips, stir until smooth. Stir in remaining 1 cup of chocolate chips. Spread batter into prepared pan, sprinkle walnuts over top, if desired.
Bake for 30 minutes, or until center is set. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut into bars, and store tightly covered at room temperature.

This recipe is from my Hershey's Classic Recipes cookbook. I didn't bother putting the nuts on top, the brownies are definitely delicious without them, but if you like nuts, feel free to add them. I found these bars a lot easier to cut if they were put into the refrigerator for just a few hours after they cooled. I just lifted the entire pan of squares out by the parchment paper and placed them on a cutting board. Then when I was ready to cut them, I took the parchment paper off and cut them into bars. They were really easy to cut and not messy at all.

Publications International Limited. "Double Chocolate Brownie Bars." Recipe. Hershey's Classic Recipes, Lincolnwood Illinois: Publications International, Limited, 2000. 47.