Cooking Through "The Baker's Man": Oreo Brownies

Have a case of the doldrums? Feeling blah or blech or blah-blech (not a real word, but definitely a real feeling)? Lost the pep in your step? Staring out windows? Zoning out? There is a remedy! Rejoin the living!

At Bea’s Bakery in The Baker’s Man, you will find various panaceas for what ails you. If you need to get your groove back, the best choice would be Anna’s Oreo brownies, which are guaranteed to put a smile on your face, a shake in your hips, and a twinkle in your eye.

These Oreo brownies are so good, they “caused Roger Jackson to think he could dance the Charleston like he did in the ’40s” (The Baker’s Man). Feel like dancing? Eat an Oreo brownie. Eat two brownies and you’ll feel like running through a meadow of daisies or climbing Everest—your choice! No matter what you decide, make sure you eat one.

Oreo Brownies

Serves: 24 brownies

Difficulty Level: Easy as eating a pan of these in less than a day

Ingredients

1¼ c all-purpose flour
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp dark unsweetened cocoa powder
11 oz dark chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 c (8 ounces) unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 tsp instant espresso powder
1½ c granulated sugar
½ c packed light brown sugar
5 eggs, at room temperature
2 tsp vanilla extract

¼ c chocolate fudge sauce (ice cream topping)

1 pkg Oreos

How to Make

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Spray the sides and bottom of an 8x8 (for fat, tall brownies) or a 9x13 glass or light-colored baking pan.
3. Grind two rows of Oreos in the food processor until finely ground.
4. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, salt, ground Oreos, and cocoa powder together.
5. Put the chocolate, butter and instant espresso powder in a large bowl and set it over a saucepan of simmering water (or use a double boiler), stirring occasionally, until the chocolate and butter are completely melted and smooth.
6. Turn off the heat, but keep the bowl over the water and add the sugars. Whisk until completely combined, and then remove the bowl from the pan. The mixture should be room temperature.
7. Add 3 eggs to the chocolate mixture and whisk until combined. Add the remaining eggs and whisk until combined. Add the vanilla and fudge sauce, and stir until combined. Do not overbeat the batter at this stage or your brownies will be cakey.
8. Sprinkle the flour mixture over the chocolate mixture. Using a rubber spatula (not a whisk or fork), fold the flour mixture into the chocolate until just a bit of the flour mixture is visible. Continue to sprinkle flour into chocolate mixture until all has been added.
9. Pour the half of the batter into the pan and smooth the top. Layer Oredos on top of batter. Pour remaining batter on top of Oreos.
10. Bake in the center of the oven for 30 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through the baking time, until a toothpick inserted into the center of the brownies comes out with a few moist crumbs sticking to it. Bake longer if necessary. Do not overbake.
11. Let the brownies cool completely. Cut into squares and serve.

The Baker's Man can be purchased in paperback or for the Kindle from Amazon and for the NOOK through Barnes & Noble.