March 19, 2009

Ina's Brownie Pudding... my new favorite dessert

Dear Ina,

I've been a fan for a long time. I watch your show faithfully, love your house, envy your kitchen, laugh at your jokes, and think you and Jeffrey are adorable. I've made probably 30 or 40 of your recipes in the past year alone and can't think of one I haven't liked.

However, this brownie pudding rocks. I expect awesome things from you but this was beyond delicious. Even reducing the butter by a quarter, I fell right in love with this dessert. It was so good I couldn't be bothered taking great pictures but had to dig in. The Butterfinger ice cream melting on top was too much to resist.

Thanks for everything. Please come to Phoenix for a book signing someday. I feel like we're old friends, but now we're best friends.

Love,

Anne Strawberry

What are you waiting for? Go make it now! And wish me luck- I really shouldn't eat this for breakfast today, but it's going to be hard to resist. (Don't forget to enter the giveaway below if you haven't already!)

Freaking Delicious Brownie Pudding
adapted from Ina Garten, my best friend I've never met

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus extra for buttering the dish (that is the reduced amount- the original calls for 1 stick for the half recipe)
2 eggs, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
3/8 cup good cocoa powder
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Vanilla ice cream, for serving

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Lightly butter 6 ramekins or mini pie tins. Melt the butter and set aside to cool.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the eggs and sugar on medium-high speed for 5 to 10 minutes, until very thick and light yellow. Meanwhile, sift the cocoa powder and flour together and set aside.

When the egg and sugar mixture is ready, reduce the speed to low and add the vanilla and the cocoa powder and flour mixture. Mix only until combined. With mixer still on low, slowly pour in the cooled butter and mix again just until combined.

Pour the brownie mixture into the prepared dish and place it in a larger baking pan. Place pan in oven. Add enough of the hottest tap water to the pan to come halfway up the side of the dish and bake for about 30 minutes- until the edges look done but the center is still a little soft. A cake tester inserted 2 inches from the side will come out 3/4 clean. The center will appear very under-baked; this dessert is between a brownie and a pudding.

Allow to cool and serve with vanilla ice cream.

33 comments:

  1. This looks sooooo good! I love anything chocolate!!

    P.S. Don't forget to enter my giveaway!

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  2. I agree that this was insanely delicious. My daughter wants me to make another one tomorrow!

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  3. I love your revamped title of the recipe! It looks (and we know it tastes) amazing!

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  4. I've seen this one but never ventured to make it. It looks so good I think Ill have tot try it! :)

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  5. I watched the episode where she made this brownie pudding and it looked so amazing! Glad you enjoyed it :) Yours looks just as yummy as Ina's!

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  6. It does look delicious. I think it is the perfect thing to have for breakfast. Oh and butterfinger ice cream........sheesh!

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  7. Oh Anne. You are too completely adorable! So glad you loved it... but seriously. Give in to the temptation. You don't want that sitting around when your hubs comes home from work tonight... isn't he allergic to chocolate? You'd be DOING HIM A FAVOR. *wink
    ~Delta Whiskey

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  8. Ooooh. That does look amazing. Did you know that eating chocolate while pregnant = mellow baby? It's scientifically proven! So keep it up!

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  9. I have been DYING to make this, but was waiting for an occasion...I'm starting to think that just being Thursday is occasion enough.

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  10. Oh...the recipe you posted, is that before cutting back on the butter or after? I would want to do that, too.

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  11. Nom nom nom! I was on the fence about making this one, but now the eggs are on the counter. Yessssss.

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  12. I have to say this looks rather tasty! I can see why you love it. I'm going to have to try this one!

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  13. Wow, before reading your post I wasn't sure if I'd make this recipe- already have so many good chocolate cake/pudding recipes- but now I think I have to make it!

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  14. I am glad you loved this one, it was a tad too rich for me but it was good. I wasn't sure if I could omit any butter so I just made small ones and half the recipe. BTW--congrats on your new little addition! ;-)

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  15. Oh - that looks SO good! I don't think I would have any self-control if I made it!

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  16. Ina has never done me wrong. Your pictures look amazing!

    I still need to get my post up, before it is all gone!

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  17. That looks way too good. I must try this. I have never tried any of her recipes, but I am going to have to now. Thanks...and good choice on the butterfinger ice cream. :)

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  18. Anne, I was going to write a love letter like that to YOU next week to thank you for picking that tomato goat cheese tart, and the cheesecake, and the apple turnovers. You have a knack for picking winners. So if you say that this is the best dessert you've ever had, well, suffice it to say that I will leave skid marks on my way to the grocery to buy the necessary ingredients to make these.

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  19. Oh, I SO would be eating that for breakfast if that was in my kitchen! Looks fabulous!

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  20. Man, after reading your letter to Ina and this recipe, I know I have to make this brownie pudding. It's not a question of "if," just a question of "when." It's 10 minutes til midnight, but I'm tempted to make it right now!! YUM!

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  21. I made that several months ago - and it is freaking-awesome!

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  22. Is there anything Ina makes I don't like? This is to die for!

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  23. Looks and sounds awesome and I LOVE your letter. ;)

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  24. Anne, I could have written that letter. I think her and Jeffrey are just so cute together. And I think T.R. needs more air time (so cute!). This looks delicious! And congratulations on your new little one!!!!

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  25. Words cannot describe how yummy this dessert was! I hope Ina makes it to Arizona so you can meet her.

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  26. Dear Anne Strawberry,
    You inspire me as much as Ina.
    Really.
    I adore your blog.
    You rock.
    I can't wait to make this and share it with my family.
    Fondly,
    Queen B

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  27. I made this tonight and it didn't turn out!! I couldn't believe it, cause it looked done and I had it in the oven for 35 min! Well, I popped a single one in the microwave for a minute and it seemed to taste ok, probably not like it was supposed to but it was good.
    BTW I love all your other recipes I've tried!! I just subscribed to your blog (just realized I could do that, DUH!) Looking forward to future posts!!

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  28. I was looking for something creative and new like this. Then tried this awesome recipe. This recipe does not disappoint. It's a snap to prepare and really tasty.

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  29. Ina is my favorite. I saw this recipe on Barefoot Contessa and have planned to try it. I shall make it this next week for a family dinner.

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