Best Brownies...ever!

I did it.  I finally made brownies from scratch for the first time ever.  This might be surprising since I love to bake so much, but the boxed brownies are just so easy...and I had no idea what I was missing until I made these beauties.

  
These are super fudgy.  The frosting isn't really necessary, but it adds some extra creamy, fudgyness that I would highly recommend!  (Interesting side note: spell checker keeps wanting to replace fudgy with pudgy...go figure!)  I found the brownie recipe online and modified the frosting recipe from my Better Homes and Gardens Baking Book.  

Brownies
Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter
• 2 cups sugar
• 3 eggs
• 3 tsp vanilla
• 2/3 cup cocoa powder
• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp baking powder

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.  Butter the bottom and sides of a 9 x 13 pan (I used metal).  Put a long piece of parchment paper in the bottom of the pan, letting the parchment extend up and overhang slightly on both ends.  Butter the parchment.  (This just helps prevent the brownies from sticking to the pan.  It isn't necessary, but I did think it was worth it)
2. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter.  Remove from the heat and add the sugar; stir to combine.  Beat in eggs and vanilla until combined.
3. Mix in the cocoa, baking powder and salt.  Add flour and stir just until combined. (The batter will be a bit lumpy)
4. Pour into the prepared pan and spread into an even layer.  Bake for 25-30 minutes.  Cool completely in pan on a cooling rack.

Frosting

Ingredients:

• 4 3/4 cups sifted powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/3 cup boiling water*
• 1 tsp vanilla

Directions:

1. Combine powdered sugar and cocoa powder.
2. Add butter,  boiling water, and vanilla.  Beat with an electric mixer on low speed until combined.
3. Beat for 1 minute on medium speed.  *At this point I found the frosting to be too stiff so I added some more hot water.  I added at least another 1/3 cup, but since I'm not sure exactly how much, just have extra on hand and add until frosting is smooth and spreadable.
4. Frost brownies and allow frosting to set. (Refrigeration isn't necessary to make it set, but it will speed up the process.)

The finished product

Mmm...makes me hungry just looking at them!

These don't take much more effort than boxed brownies and were seriously so much better!  Even Makaila helped me make them, that's how easy they are :)

Running around in her modified apron

Who doesn't need a boot when baking brownies?!

Cleaning up is very important

Loves helping Mommy in the kitchen