Double Iced Brownies…and newborn babies!

First of all, I am going to warn you, because you are dear to me… after making this recipe, you will never want to make another brownie recipe again. After this one. Ever. You’ve been warned. 

These brownies are ridiculously good. They are extremely forgiving, requiring minimal baking skill, and they will take your ice cream game up a thousand notches! They will make you famous among your friends and your children’s friends and your grandchildren’s friends. 

So what does all of this brownie hoopla have to do with newborn babies? 

Ummmm everything. Well, maybe not every thing. But one thing, for sure, these brownies first walked into my life after birthing my third baby. It must be noted that this baby boy was by far the largest and most aggressive entrance of all of the five Monsivaiz babies. Let the record show that he was ten pounds and six ounces, almost 2 weeks late and required every possible inducement option know to man before he was willing to show up. I can laugh about it now. I mean it’s been 17 years! Also, on behalf of the fact that he ushered in the BEST BROWNIES EVER, I’ll let go of his obnoxious entrance. 

Aaaaaannnnnnyyyyyywaaaaaayyyyy. You know how people bring you food when you have a baby? They do. They really do. They show up with food. Cooked in their very own kitchen. With love and tenderness and all put together and ready to eat!

Well, after the birthing of Mr. Hefty, one of my friends brought me these brownies (the ones that are about to change your life). She advised me to put them in the fridge for a bit because “they are super fudgie.” However, my sweet newborn bundle was basically the size of a toddler bundle and I was his sole calorie source. So obviously, I was not going to wait to eat ANYTHING. Thus, there would be no fridge time for these brownies! They were getting consumed even if I had to inhale them with a straw. 

Life was changed for the better! Mr. Hefty grew into the most easy going and ironically most prompt, servant leader of a man child. Oh, and those brownies have won friends and influenced people all over creation! Well, ok, maybe that’s over the top. For certain they have ruined loads of my friends for any other brownie and have delivered the best chocolate therapy to countless new mamas. 

Ok, we need to have a quick chat about chocolate. I love you enough to tell you that good quality chocolate makes a difference! There, I said it. Listen, if the star of the baked good show is chocolate, then for heaven’s sakes that star deserves to be a notch above the rest. Don’t panic! It’s not a deal breaker, just a taste maker. If you are a devout lover of that yellow bag with the little white house and red roof, then we can still be friends. But, I will be making the brownies for girls night!

Be aware that if you are short on time, you can always skip the double icing layers and just press a handful of extra chocolate chips into the top of the brownies before popping them in the oven. Or if you are extra, and love living life on the edge, you can do all three! 

Brownie Ingredients

Icing Layer #1

• 2 cups confectioner’s sugar
• 1/2 cup butter softened
• 1-2 Tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Icing Layer #2

• 4 (1 ounce) squares chocolate
• 4 Tablespoons butter

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F
2. Melt 1/2 lb butter and 4 oz. of unsweetened chocolate, in the microwave or in a pan on medium-low heat.
3. Add above mixture and 2 cups of sugar to stand mixer and stir until dissolved
4. One at a time, beat in 4 eggs
5. Add 2 tsp of vanilla and 1 1/2 cups of flour a little at a time and mix until combined.
6. Add 1/2 bag or 1 cup of chocolate chips. Stir but don’t over mix.
7. Bake in 13×19″ greased pan at 325 degrees F for 25-30 minutes. Check at for doneness at 25 minutes. Brownies should be gooey not dry. Knife inserted in middle should be slightly wet. Cool completely.
8. While cooling, mix icing layer one ingredients to a spreadable consistency. Spread icing onto cooled brownies. Refrigerate for 10 minutes or until icing becomes slightly firm.
9. While brownies are chilling in the fridge, mix icing layer two by melting ingredients in the microwave 30 seconds at a time until completely melted.
10. Using a spoon, drizzle chocolate icing layer over the top of the first icing layer.
11. Refrigerate to harden chocolate.
12. Warm to room temp before cutting into squares.

Keep them in the fridge until ready to serve… unless you are sustaining a small human from your bosom… in which case all bets are off!