Frosted Brownies

If you are having a serious chocolate craving than look no further!  My three year old was upset that I gave away the Mother's Day cake I made and he wanted me to make him something while he took a nap.  I decided to make some brownies and frost them for him since he's my favorite 3 year old.  They didn't last long at our house. 

Frosted Brownies
1 C (2 sticks) butter
1/2 C cocoa
2 C sugar
4 eggs
1 C all-purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp almond extract (optional)

frosting:
14 Tablespoons butter (1 whole stick and 3/4 of another)
1/4 C cocoa
1/3 C heavy cream (or milk)
1 tsp vanilla
2 C powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Melt 2 sticks butter in microwave, over double boiler, or in a saucepan.  Add 1/2 C cocoa and mix well.  Set aside to cool.  In a mixing bowl beat sugar and eggs until light colored and fluffy.  Mix in flour, salt, vanilla, and almond extract if using then add the chocolate/butter mixture.  Pour into a greased jelly roll pan (13X18 sheet pan).  Bake for 20 minutes. 

While brownies are baking you can start the frosting.  Melt the butter in a saucepan and add cocoa.  Mix well and remove from heat.  Add the rest of ingredients and then spread over warm brownies.

Sammy couldn't keep his fingers out of them (notice big finger indentation on brownie!) long enough to get a good pic and these were the last two left when I got around to taking pictures. 

Our favorite chocolate chippers....so far!

I have made many different chocolate chip cookies.  This recipe is so easy and it is our favorite.  It is a pretty standard recipe but with more brown than white sugar and it also has cornstarch in it.  This website has some basic info on cornstarch and its uses. 

You could use other candy or varieties of chocolate chips (butterscotch, milk chocolate, peanut butter, etc).  Sometimes I use part whole wheat flour and part all-purpose flour and have had great results.   

**update 3/12/2013 I have since found a new favorite recipe.  The only thing is you have to refrigerate it overnight and usually when the boys want cookies, they don't want to wait.  If you want another AWESOME recipe try this New York Times chocolate chip cookie over at Brown Eyed Baker.

Chocolate Chippers
Recipe adapted from Apple A Day

1 C softened butter
3/4 C brown sugar
1/4 C sugar
1 egg
2 tsp vanilla
2 C all-purpose flour
2 tsp cornstarch
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 package chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cream softened butter with sugars until fluffy (I usually let it mix for about 5 minutes....really cream them good!) then add egg and vanilla.  Add remaining ingredients and mix until incorporated.  Use a scoop and drop onto cookie sheets.  Bake for 8-10 minutes and don't over bake.  Makes about 3 dozen cookies.