Ultimate Brownie

Source:  Mary Jo Check

This brownie is not in any way stingy on the frosting.  This is the best  brownie I've ever had in my life!

3/4 cup Hershey's cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2/3 cup butter, melted and divided
1/2 cup boiling water
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease a rectangular 9 x 13 x 2-inch baking pan or two 8 x 8 x 2-inch square baking pans.

In a medium bowl, combine cocoa and baking soda.  Blend in 1/3 cup melted butter.  Add boiling water and stir until mixture thickens. 

Blend in sugar, eggs, and remaining 1/3 cup melted butter.  Blend until  smooth.  Add flour, vanilla, and salt.  Blend completely.  Stir in chocolate chips. 

Pour brownie mixture into prepared pan(s).  Bake for 35-40 minutes for a rectangular pan; 30-35 minutes for square pans or until brownies begin to pull away from the sides of the pan.  Cool completely in pan(s).  Frost with One-Bowl Butter Cream Frosting.  Cut into squares.  Makes 36 brownies.

One-Bowl Butter Cream Frosting:

6 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 cup Hershey's cocoa
2 2/3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

With an electric mixer, cream butter.  Add cocoa and powdered sugar alternately with milk.  Beat to spreading consistency.  (Additional milk may be needed.)  Blend in vanilla.  Makes about 2 cups.