Additional Coverage:
- I made Ina Garten’s ‘outrageous brownies,’ the most popular dessert at her famous store. They tasted incredible. (businessinsider.com)
Ina Garten’s “Outrageous Brownies” Prove Their Worth in a Home Kitchen Test
Our reviewer tackles the legendary Barefoot Contessa recipe, and the results are nothing short of delicious.
Ina Garten, the undisputed queen of elegant entertaining and comforting classics, is known for her iconic recipes. Among them, her “Outrageous Brownies” hold a special place, once the most sought-after dessert at her original Barefoot Contessa store. Local baking enthusiasts, including one intrepid reviewer, have often turned to Garten’s cookbooks for culinary inspiration, and these legendary brownies were next on the list.
The history of these brownies is as rich as their flavor. Garten herself noted that her husband Jeffrey’s affection was “initially linked to the boxes of homemade brownies I used to send him in college.” When she opened her Barefoot Contessa store in the Hamptons, these fudgy delights quickly became a sensation, reportedly selling “like a thousand” every week.
The recipe itself is a testament to chocolate indulgence, calling for a generous pound of unsalted butter, a pound and 12 ounces of semisweet chocolate chips, and 6 ounces of bitter chocolate. Beyond the impressive chocolate haul, other ingredients include extra-large eggs, chopped walnuts, sugar, flour, instant coffee granules (Garten’s secret for enhancing chocolate flavor), vanilla extract, baking powder, and salt.
The baking process, while requiring a few key steps, is surprisingly straightforward. It begins with melting the butter and a significant portion of the chocolate over simmering water. A crucial tip from Garten is to allow this mixture to cool sufficiently before incorporating the remaining chocolate chips, preventing them from melting prematurely and compromising the brownie’s texture.
The wet ingredients – eggs, vanilla, coffee, and sugar – are gently combined, then blended with the cooled chocolate. Dry ingredients, including flour, baking powder, and salt, are sifted and added. Garten wisely suggests tossing the walnuts and remaining chocolate chips with a bit of flour, a clever trick to ensure they don’t sink to the bottom during baking.
Once the rich batter is poured into a prepared baking sheet, another signature Garten technique comes into play: a gentle rap of the baking sheet against the oven rack midway through baking. This simple action releases trapped air, contributing to the brownies’ signature fudgy texture. The brownies bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, though Garten stresses the importance of not overbaking to maintain their decadent moistness.
The anticipation during cooling is immense, and the finished product lives up to its “outrageous” moniker. These brownies emerge from the oven fluffy and thick, each square a luscious, fudgy masterpiece packed with a delightful crunch from the walnuts and extra chocolate chips.
The verdict? Ina Garten’s Outrageous Brownies are indeed outrageously delicious.
The rich, satisfying chocolate flavor, combined with the varied textures, creates a truly elevated dessert experience that belies its relatively simple preparation. For anyone seeking a special reward in the form of a homemade treat, these brownies are a definite winner.