A month back or so, I fixed suppers for two families in our church. The dessert was a pan of brownies, divided between the two families, except for a couple the cook ate for quality control purposes. My friend Clare’s recipe looked delicious, but there wasn’t enough time to devote to it. But an internet search turned up a quick, easy recipe that called for some of the unsweetened baking squares I picked up for half-price at Walmart after Christmas.

Ka-ching!

According to the internet, this recipe is also printed on the inner side of each box of Baker’s unsweetened chocolate squares. That sounds really handy, except for this.
Each box contains 8 squares.
The recipe calls for 4 squares.
Getting to the recipe requires cutting apart the box.
Once the cook cuts apart the box, she has four homeless chocolate squares.

Where are they supposed to live?

Despite the problem created by Baker’s recipe engineers, these brownies were as easy and delicious as they sounded. I added almond extract and skipped the nuts (one of the families receiving the brownies has little kids), but other than that, the recipe is like the one printed on the inside of the Baker’s chocolate box. In case you don’t want homeless chocolate squares living in cardboard boxes in the alley behind your house.

One Bowl Brownies

4 squares Baker’s unsweetened chocolate
3/4 cups butter or margarine
2 cups sugar (yeah, it’s a lot, but cutting down the sugar in fudge brownies is dangerous)
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 cup flour
1 cup coarsely chopped nuts (optional)

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line 13 x 9 baking pan with foil extending over edges to form “handles.” Grease foil.

Microwave chocolate and butter in large microwavable bowl on high 2 minutes or until butter is melted. Remove from microwave and stir until butter is melted.

Stir sugar into chocolate mixture until well blended. Mix in eggs, vanilla, and almond extract until well-blended. Stir in flour and nuts until well blended. Spread into prepared pan.

Bake for 30 – 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out with fudgy crumbs. Do not overbake. Cool in pan. Lift out of pan onto cutting board. Cut into squares. Makes 24 brownies.