Sometimes you need to be in the holiday mood to make a truly decadent treat for family and friends. Lisi from Lisi’s Luscious Desserts shares this brownie recipe which is a family favorite in her house. These are chewy and chocolatey, and not as rich as a regular fudge brownie. When baked these brownies have a lovely sheen on top and yummy crisp edges. Let them cool before cutting them into delicious bite-sized pieces.

Holiday Brownies
Ingredients
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
3 ounces unsweetened chocolate|
1/2 cup unsweetened dutch processed cocoa powder
2 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (if using table salt, cut in half)
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3 large eggs
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
chocolate chips (optional)
toasted nuts (optional)
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a 13×9 inch baking pan with foil or parchment or use butter or cooking spray.
Place the butter in a medium sauce pan and over low heat, start to melt it. Add the unsweetened chocolate by placing on top of the butter and slowly melt the two together. Do not burn the chocolate or cook it. If you are too worried doing it this way, just use a double boiler or a makeshift one (metal bowl on top of a saucepan with an inch of barely simmering water).
Stir in the cocoa powder, sugar, and salt then blend in the vanilla. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, and stir quickly after each one is added. Then beat again once all incorporated. Fold in the flour and chocolate chips and nuts if using. Lisi uses chocolate chips, usually a darker semi sweet or a bitter-sweet type.
Bake for about 24-30 minutes…check them after 20 minutes. Bake until the edges start to pull from the sides a tad, and a toothpick comes out just clean.