Crackle-Top Brownies

These lovely, dark, dense brownies have a crackly crust that is so simple to do. Almost like ‘Brownies Brulee’.

Ingredients (makes one 13x9 pan):

1 cup butter (2 sticks)

1 cup chocolate chips (I used 60% cocoa chips)

1 ¼ cups granulated sugar for the batter plus 1/3 cup for the top

4 large eggs, lightly beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup all purpose flour

¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

½ teaspoon espresso powder

Directions:

Pre heat oven to 325 degrees F. Butter and flour a 13 x 9 baking pan.

In a large saucepan, melt the butter and chocolate chips together.

Remove from heat and stir in the 1 ¼ cups of sugar. Then, stir in the eggs and vanilla, mixing until completely smooth.

Stir in the flour, cocoa powder and espresso powder. Pour into the prepared pan. Evenly sprinkle the 1/3 cup sugar over the top.

Bake until a toothpick comes out relatively clean (these are very moist brownies), about 35 minutes. Let cool and then cut into squares.