Cherry Baby Brownie Bites
Baby Brownie Bites are a super treat for a baby shower that incorporates the mommy theme witha holiday cookie exchange. A cookie exchange is a time-honored way to share family cooking traditions while helping a Mom-to-Be stock up on holiday goodies. Be sure to have guests bring their cookie recipes on neatly printed index cards. Have festive colored ribbons on hand for those who forget to wrap them!
INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
a pinch of cloves
3 tbsp unsalted butter (cut into 5 pieces)
4 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped coarsely
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped coarsely
1/2 cup light brown sugar, tightly packed
2 large eggs
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Grated zest of 1/2 orange
1 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup dried cherries (make sure they are moist). You can use 1/2 cup chopped maraschino cherries if you can't find dried.
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 325. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with aluminum foil. Butter the foil or use nonstick spray. Make sure you get the edges of the foil that align the sides of the pan.
In a medium bowl, mix together flour, salt and spices.
Put a heat-proof bowl over a sauce pan of low simmering water. Put butter in the bottom of the bowl then add the chopped chocolates. Heat and stir occasionally just until ingredients are melted. Don't get them too hot so that the butter separates. Remove bowl from pan.
Using a whisk, stir the sugars into the butter-chocolate mixture. Add the eggs one at a time, then mix in the vanilla and the grated orange zest. Gently fold in the dry ingredients. Use a rubber or plastic spatula to mix in the nuts and cherries.
Turn brownie mixture into the aluminum foiled lined pan and bake for about 25 minutes. Knife will come out clean from the center when brownies are done. Remove from oven and place pan on a cooling rack.
When brownies in the pan are cool, turn them onto the rack and carefully pull off the aluminum foil. Turn brownies onto a cutting board. If desired, use a ruler for measuring and cut brownies into 1-inch bites.
Brownies can be prepared five days in advance if you don't cut them. Store uncut by wrapping well and place them in an air-tight container. If brownies are cut, they can be stored for three days. Brownies can be frozen for up to two months.
Okay, you caught me! If you're pressed for time and need a quickie holiday recipe for a party treat, buy a box of brownie mix, add walnuts and 1/2 cup chopped maraschino or dried cherries. Mix the batter together then bake as usual. But don't tell anyone I told you!
