Christmas Brownies

Christmas Brownies

Here's an old-fashioned Brownie recipe that we love to make at Christmas.

• 8 oz. semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 1 cup butter
• 2 tbsp. cherry brandy (optional)
• 2 tbsp. vanilla
• 1-1/4 cups granulate sugar
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 6 large eggs
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup natural unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 cup coarsely chopped candied cherries
• 4 oz. semisweet chocolate, chopped

Heat oven to 325 degrees. Line a 15x10x1 inch baking pan with foil and lightly grease it. In saucepan stir semisweet chocolate and butter over low heat until melted. Remove from heat. Stir in brandy and vanilla. Transfer to a large mixing bowl. Add sugars and eggs. Beat on medium until well-combined. Combine flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Add to chocolate-egg mixture. Beat on medium until well-combined. Stir in cherries and chopped chocolate. Spread batter in prepared pan. Bake 30 minutes. Transfer to wire rack and allow to cool completely. Gently cut in bars or sticks using a sharp knife (to make slicing easy, let the pan of brownies cool completely before cutting in bars). Makes about 48 bars.