Cosmic Brownies

INGREDIENTS:

FOR THE BROWNIES:

* 1 cup granulated sugar

* ⅔ cup brown sugar

* ¾ cup 1 ½ sticks butter, melted

* 2 tablespoons water

* 2 large eggs

* 2 teaspoons vanilla

* 1 ⅓ cups all-purpose flour

* ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa

* ½ teaspoon baking powder

* ¼ teaspoon salt

FOR THE GANACHE:

* ½ cup heavy cream

* 7 ounce bittersweet chocolate

* Pinch of salt

* Colorful candies or sprinkles, for decorating

INSTRUCTIONS:

Heat oven to 350F. Line a 13 x 9 pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil, then lightly grease. Set aside.

In a large bowl, combine the sugars, butter and water with a whisk. Stir in the eggs and vanilla. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt. Stir the dry mix into the wet stuff and stir to combine. With a rubber spatula, spread the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 18 minutes. Don’t over bake!

Set aside on a rack to cool.

While the brownies are baking, prepare the ganache: Place the chocolate in a bowl and set aside. In a small saucepan, heat the cream just to a simmer. Don’t boil it, just wait till you see little bubbles starting to form around the edges. Remove from the heat and pour over the chocolate. Sprinkle with the salt and let it all sit for a minute or so. Gently stir with a rubber spatula until all of the chocolate is melted. Whisking the heck out of it will just add air bubbles and we don’t want those. Set that aside to cool a bit.

When the brownies are mostly cool, pour the ganache over and spread it evenly over the top. Sprinkle as many or as few of the candies/sprinkles over the top as you like. I cooled mine in the fridge until the ganache was set. When you are ready to cut them into squares, lift them out with the foil and cut into the size or shape you like.