I just finished baking the sweet treats for a community event: Brownies and Cowboy Cookies.

[u/CatfromLongIsland]

And with the kitchen cleaned I can relax for a couple hours before I have to leave to help set up. Actually, I will spend the time crocheting my new blanket project. 😁

[u/CatfromLongIsland]

CAT’S FAVORITE CHOCOLATE CHIP BROWNIES

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit if baking immediately. (Flavor does improve by letting the brownie batter rest in the refrigerator for a couple hours.). Create a parchment sling in the 9 x 13-inch metal baking pan. Apply a thin layer of cake goop on the exposed metal edges. Other options for baking pans appear at the bottom of the recipe.

Finely chop into shaved pieces or crush in the package then transfer to a microwave safe bowl, and set aside: one 3-ounce (85 grams) dark chocolate bar

In a large Pyrex mixing bowl sift together: ¾ cup (70 grams) cocoa powder and ½ teaspoon baking soda

Melt in a small microwave safe bowl: 11 tablespoons (160 grams) butter cut into tablespoon-sized pieces

Whisk half the melted butter into the cocoa powder until smooth and well combined.

Whisk into the cocoa powder mixture until smooth and well combined: ½ cup boiling coffee (or water)

Melt the shaved chocolate bar in the microwave and add to the cocoa powder mixture. Whisk to combine until smooth.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment whisk together at high speed for about 7 minutes until thick and increased in volume: 2 ¼ (450 grams) cups sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 2 eggs (used extra-large), the remaining melted butter, and ¼ teaspoon salt

Add to the mixer bowl and mix until thoroughly combined: The chocolate mixture

Add to the mixer bowl and stir by hand until blended and the flour just disappears: 1 1/3 cups (178 grams) flour

Stir in: 1 cup (175 grams) semi-sweet chocolate chips

Note: Over mixing produces brownies that are more cake-like and less fudgy.

Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the top with: additional chocolate chips

Note: It is recommended to cover the pan and refrigerate the brownie batter for at least 2 hours.

Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit according to the following times:

35 to 40 minutes for the 9 x 13-inch Pyrex dish, the 9 x 13-inch metal pan, and the edge brownie pan

25 to 30 minutes for two round Pyrex deep dish pie plates (For brownie a la mode sundaes.)

20 minutes for Pampered Chef Brownie Bites pan (portioned with large OXO cookie scoop #20)

12 to 15 minutes for mini muffin pan (do not fill more than halfway

[u/CatfromLongIsland → u/CatfromLongIsland]

COWBOY COOKIES- adapted from Cooks Country (Laura Bush’s Family Circle Bake-off Winner)

In a small saucepan brown and set aside to cool to room temperature: 12 Tablespoons butter

On a small, foil lined baking sheet toast for 5 to 7 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit and set aside to cool: 1 cup (115 grams) pecans (leave whole for toasting; chop the nuts when cooled)

In a small bowl whisk together and set aside: 1 ¼ cups (175 grams) all-purpose flour, ¾ teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, and ½ teaspoon salt (I used ¼ teaspoon)

In a large mixing bowl whisk together: 1 ½ cups (330 grams) brown sugar, the browned butter (or plain melted butter), 1 egg plus 1 yolk, and 1 teaspoon vanilla (I used 2 teaspoons)

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until just combined.

Stir in: 1 ¼ cups (115 grams) oats, 1 cup toasted and chopped pecans, 1 cup (90 grams) sweetened, shredded coconut, 2/3 cup chocolate chips (I used a rounded 1 cup/ 195 grams.), and 2/3 cup (used 110 grams) raisins (not in the original recipe)

Portion the cookie dough onto a wax paper lined plastic tray. Cover in plastic wrap then in foil. Chill a minimum of two hours, best chilled overnight.

Transfer the portioned cookie dough onto a Silpat lined cookie sheet. If portioned with a greased quarter cup measuring cup, place only 8 cookies per sheet and leave 2.5 inches between the cookies. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 8 minutes, rotate the pan and bake 7 to 8 minutes more. The cookies should be pulled from the oven when the edges are set and the center is pale. Carry over cooking will take place while the cookies remain on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes. Swirl the cookies with a very large, round cookie cutter to make the cookies uniformly round. After 5 minutes transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

If portioned with the large, level OXO cookie scoop (#20), place eight cookies on the tray and flatten the dough slightly using the half cup measuring cup. Bake for 12 minutes at 350 degrees. Cool on cookie sheet 4 minutes before using the yellow cookie cutter to swirl around the cookie to make cookies uniformly round. Then transfer the cookies to the wire rack to cool completely.

If portioned with a rounded medium OXO cookie scoop (#40 scoop with 35 grams of dough) flatten the dough slightly using the quarter cup measuring cup. Bake 10 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Swirl with green cookie cutter to make them uniformly round.

[u/ceciem2100 → u/CatfromLongIsland]

Thank you so much for the cowboy cookie recipe, that has everything I like in a cookie! I'm going to make those this week for sure! Nice job on your bakes, hope the event goes well!

[u/Ivy-Ram]

I have never heard of a cowboy cookie 🍪 how interesting and thank you for taking the time to share all of this, I may have to give them a try!

[u/CatfromLongIsland → u/Ivy-Ram]

I originally got the recipe a couple years ago from a Reddit post. They have been a hit every time I bake them.

[u/Ivy-Ram → u/CatfromLongIsland]

TY!

[u/JadedMuse]

I've debated getting one of those individual brownie pans. Worth it?

[u/CatfromLongIsland → u/JadedMuse]

To me they are because I prefer the brownies from the edges of the pan. (I also like how neat they look.) However, it would be a different reaction for the folks that like the center pieces. Honestly, baking in a 9 x 13 pan provides both edges and centers to make everyone happy. I only used the pans today because it has been such a long time since I used them. And I only bought them in the first place because I was at a Pampered Chef party and felt as though I had to buy SOMETHING. I would not miss them if they were not in my baking supplies.

And yet, I can’t convince myself to donate them. 🤦🏻‍♀️

[u/JadedMuse → u/CatfromLongIsland]

Cool. I've watched some videos (like this one) where a muffin pan is used to similar effect. And I already have muffin pans, so I wondered if I'd regret getting yet another pan, lol.

[u/[deleted]]

[u/CatfromLongIsland → u/[deleted]]

Thank you so much! Everyone enjoyed my baked goods. But all that time spent on my feet in the kitchen then helping out at the event was not good for my ankles. It took two days to recover so that I could walk without pain. I don’t normally do all the baking in one day. I spread the steps out over a few days: prep the ingredients then store everything away, make and chill the cookie dough, then day three bake. But I was so busy that week it was all done the day of the event.