{"id":3624,"date":"2015-04-19T13:19:33","date_gmt":"2015-04-19T20:19:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.therowdybaker.com\/?p=3624"},"modified":"2015-04-19T13:24:23","modified_gmt":"2015-04-19T20:24:23","slug":"brownies-for-a-crowd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.therowdybaker.com\/?p=3624","title":{"rendered":"Brownies for a Crowd"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.therowdybaker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/brownie-cropped.jpg\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-3628\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.therowdybaker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/brownie-cropped.jpg?resize=488%2C332\" alt=\"brownie cropped\" width=\"488\" height=\"332\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.therowdybaker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/brownie-cropped.jpg?resize=300%2C203 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.therowdybaker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/brownie-cropped.jpg?zoom=2&amp;resize=488%2C332 976w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.therowdybaker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/brownie-cropped.jpg?zoom=3&amp;resize=488%2C332 1464w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 488px) 100vw, 488px\" \/><\/a>The other day I needed to make lots and lots of brownies&#8230;enough for 60 women. And because &#8220;good enough&#8221; just doesn&#8217;t cut it for our Homemakers&#8217; Club annual spring tea, I also felt the urge&nbsp;to gussy them up and make them pretty.<a href=\"\/\/www.pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.therowdybaker.com%2F%3Fp%3D3624&amp;media=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.therowdybaker.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F04%2Fbrownies-for-tea-watermark-1024x683.jpg&amp;description=Brownies%20for%20a%20crowd%2C%20decorated%20for%20spring.\" data-pin-do=\"buttonPin\" data-pin-config=\"beside\" data-pin-color=\"red\" data-pin-height=\"28\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/assets.pinterest.com\/images\/pidgets\/pinit_fg_en_rect_red_28.png?w=584\"><\/a><br \/>\n<!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --><br \/>\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" async=\"\" defer=\"\" src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\"><\/script><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.therowdybaker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/brownies-for-tea-watermark.jpg\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-3633\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.therowdybaker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/brownies-for-tea-watermark.jpg?resize=584%2C390\" alt=\"brownies for tea watermark\" width=\"584\" height=\"390\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.therowdybaker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/brownies-for-tea-watermark.jpg?resize=1024%2C683 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.therowdybaker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/brownies-for-tea-watermark.jpg?resize=300%2C200 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.therowdybaker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/brownies-for-tea-watermark.jpg?resize=450%2C300 450w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.therowdybaker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/brownies-for-tea-watermark.jpg?w=1168 1168w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.therowdybaker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/brownies-for-tea-watermark.jpg?w=1752 1752w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I usually use a mixture of oil and butter in my brownies, but I wanted these to be rich and decadent, so I skipped the oil and used lots of butter. They turned out even better than I&#8217;d hoped, with enough height to look impressive, and&nbsp;a density somewhere between fudge brownies and cake brownies.<\/p>\n<p>If you don&#8217;t have a crowd to cook for, you could cut the recipe in half of course. But I&#8217;d go for the full recipe and freeze some if I were you; they&#8217;re that good!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"easyrecipe\" data-rating=\"0\">\t<link itemprop=\"image\" href=\"http:\/\/www.therowdybaker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/brownie-cropped-1024x691.jpg\">\n<div class=\"item ERName\">Brownies for a Crowd<\/div>\n<div class=\"ERClear\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"ERHead\">Author: <span class=\"author\">The Rowdy Baker<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"ERSummary summary\">Makes approximately 72 brownies, 1 1\/2-inch by 2-inches each.<\/div>\n<div class=\"ERIngredients\">\n<div class=\"ERIngredientsHeader\">Ingredients<\/div>\n<ul class=\"ingredients\">\n<li class=\"ingredient\">6 cups sugar<\/li>\n<li class=\"ingredient\">2 1\/4 cups (4 1\/2 sticks) butter, melted<\/li>\n<li class=\"ingredient\">9 eggs<\/li>\n<li class=\"ingredient\">1 tablespoon vanilla<\/li>\n<li class=\"ingredient\">1 1\/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder<\/li>\n<li class=\"ingredient\">1 cup &#8220;Special Dark&#8221; cocoa powder<\/li>\n<li class=\"ingredient\">3 cups all-purpose flour<\/li>\n<li class=\"ingredient\">1 teaspoon baking soda<\/li>\n<li class=\"ingredient\">1 teaspoon baking powder<\/li>\n<li class=\"ingredient\">1 teaspoon salt<\/li>\n<li class=\"ingredient\">1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips<\/li>\n<li class=\"ingredient\">1 cup chopped walnuts (more if desired)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ERInstructions\">\n<div class=\"ERInstructionsHeader\">Instructions<\/div>\n<div class=\"instructions\">\n<ol>\n<li class=\"instruction\">Heat oven to 350 F.<\/li>\n<li class=\"instruction\">Lightly grease two 9-inch by 13-inch baking pans, line with parchment, (the grease will hold the parchment in place) and spray lightly with an oil\/flour combination spray like Baker&#8217;s Joy.<\/li>\n<li class=\"instruction\">In a very large bowl, combine the sugar and melted butter. Stir well.<\/li>\n<li class=\"instruction\">In a medium bowl, beat the eggs and vanilla until frothy. Add slowly to the sugar mixture, stirring well.,<\/li>\n<li class=\"instruction\">Add the cocoa powders, flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Stir just until combined.<\/li>\n<li class=\"instruction\">Gently stir in the chocolate chips and walnuts.<\/li>\n<li class=\"instruction\">Divide evenly between baking pans, spreading with a dough scraper or offset spatula.<\/li>\n<li class=\"instruction\">Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick in the center of the brownies comes out clean. If it has batter on it, bake in 3 minute increments until done. Don&#8217;t overbake.<\/li>\n<li class=\"instruction\">Cool COMPLETELY in pans on cooling racks. Remove the brownies by lifting the edges of the parchment. Mark and cut as desired. Since they are thick and rich, I found that 1 1\/2-inch by 2-inch pieces were perfect.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ERNutrition\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"endeasyrecipe\" style=\"display: none;\">3.2.2929<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_3629\" style=\"width: 594px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.therowdybaker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/spreading-brownie-batter.jpg\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3629\" class=\"size-large wp-image-3629\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.therowdybaker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/spreading-brownie-batter.jpg?resize=584%2C390\" alt=\"Spreading batter. (I used one huge pan, 13&quot; x 18&quot;)\" width=\"584\" height=\"390\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.therowdybaker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/spreading-brownie-batter.jpg?resize=1024%2C683 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.therowdybaker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/spreading-brownie-batter.jpg?resize=300%2C200 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.therowdybaker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/spreading-brownie-batter.jpg?resize=450%2C300 450w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.therowdybaker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/spreading-brownie-batter.jpg?w=1168 1168w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.therowdybaker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/spreading-brownie-batter.jpg?w=1752 1752w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-3629\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Spreading batter. (I used one huge pan, 13&#8243; x 18&#8243;)<\/p><\/div>\n<p>I was so busy slam-dunking this project, I failed to take pictures as I went. But the decorations were pretty simple for the most part. A swirl of chocolate buttercream icing (ganache would be great, too!) a few buttercream roses and leaves, and nifty little edible flowers and butterflies I got from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.etsy.com\/shop\/sugarrobot\" target=\"_new\">Sugar Robot.<\/a> There is no sugar in them, so they were perfect as decorations for the batch of sugar-free brownies I also made.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.therowdybaker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/jelly-bean-bee.jpg\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-3631\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.therowdybaker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/jelly-bean-bee.jpg?resize=584%2C390\" alt=\"jelly bean bee\" width=\"584\" height=\"390\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.therowdybaker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/jelly-bean-bee.jpg?resize=1024%2C683 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.therowdybaker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/jelly-bean-bee.jpg?resize=300%2C200 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.therowdybaker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/jelly-bean-bee.jpg?resize=450%2C300 450w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.therowdybaker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/jelly-bean-bee.jpg?w=1168 1168w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.therowdybaker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/jelly-bean-bee.jpg?w=1752 1752w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px\" \/><\/a>The little bees were simple and fun to make. To make a bee I used two jelly beans &#8211; a yellow one for the body and a &#8220;ginger ale&#8221; jelly bean for the head and wings. (White would do nicely, too.) I melted a little white chocolate in a small dish to use as glue, then cut the end off of one of the lighter beans for a head and glued it to the end of a yellow bean, using the white chocolate. Then two more thin slices of the light bean were attached&nbsp;to the sides for wings. You will need to hold them in place for a few seconds to let the white chocolate dry.<\/p>\n<p>Melt a small amount of dark chocolate in a plastic zipper-type bag and snip a teeny tiny bit of one corner off. Dot eyes onto the head and then stripes on the back of the yellow bean.&nbsp;(The reason my stripes look a little wimpy is because I thought I&#8217;d try painting them with black paste food coloring. Not recommended!)&nbsp;That&#8217;s it. Let them dry for a few minutes before moving them onto the brownies.<\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s how I know these brownies are the best I&#8217;ve made: usually, I prefer them with lots of chocolate icing, but I had some leftovers that didn&#8217;t get decorated, and I actually preferred them plain. Irresistible!<\/p>\n<p>Happy spring&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>Lorinda<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The other day I needed to make lots and lots of brownies&#8230;enough for 60 women. And because &#8220;good enough&#8221; just doesn&#8217;t cut it for our Homemakers&#8217; Club annual spring tea, I also felt the urge&nbsp;to gussy them up and make &hellip; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.therowdybaker.com\/?p=3624\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3632,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[82,11,90],"tags":[406,401,402,405,404,403],"class_list":["post-3624","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cakes","category-cookies","category-desserts","tag-bee-decorations","tag-big-batch-brownies","tag-brownies-for-a-crowd","tag-candy-bees","tag-decorated-brownies","tag-large-batch-brownies"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.therowdybaker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/002.jpg?fit=4272%2C2848","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2YuGU-Ws","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.therowdybaker.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3624","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.therowdybaker.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.therowdybaker.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.therowdybaker.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.therowdybaker.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3624"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"http:\/\/www.therowdybaker.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3624\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3636,"href":"http:\/\/www.therowdybaker.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3624\/revisions\/3636"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.therowdybaker.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3632"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.therowdybaker.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3624"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.therowdybaker.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3624"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.therowdybaker.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3624"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}