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.