Brownies for a Crowd

Oh you guys. I need to come back down from this state of giddiness that made me walk into a wall after Malcolm McDowell and Aaron Douglas hugged me goodbye this afternoon. I’m afraid I’ll gush so much you’ll lose your breakfast.

So if you haven’t heard – and I haven’t been driving you crazy with my tweets – I somehow wound up spending the weekend cooking for Leonard Nimoy, Malcolm McDowell, Sid Haig, Aaron Douglas, Tahmoh Penikett and a bunch of the guys from Twilight. And I can’t wait to tell you all about it, but I won’t do a very good job of it now. I’m done. W is snoring beside me and I’m about to join him. I just set my alarm for 6:30, and I need more than 5 hours this time.

I’ll fill you in tomorrow – when hopefully the photographer will send along pictures. I’ll leave you with my favourite big-batch-brownie recipe. Double this and bake it in a rimmed baking sheet (I buy them at Brown’s downtown – bring cash) for even more people. Easy. To fancy them up, cut them straight from the pan using a round cookie cutter or the open end of a tomato paste tin – skewer them on lollipop sticks from the craft store and you have yourself some brownie pops.

Brownies for a Crowd

8 oz. semisweet chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup butter, cut into pieces
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
4 large eggs
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cocoa
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2-3/4 cup chocolate chips or chopped walnuts or pecans

Preheat oven to 350F.

In a small saucepan or a bowl in the microwave, melt the chocolate and butter over low heat. Stir until smooth and if you used a pot, pour into a bowl.

Stir in the sugar, vanilla and eggs; blend well. Add the flour, cocoa and salt and stir until almost combined; add the chocolate chips and stir just until blended.

Spread into a 9″x13″ pan that has been lined with parchment or sprayed with nonstick spray; bake for 25-30 minutes, or until just set. (A toothpick inserted will come out with lots of moist crumbs sticking to it.) Makes about 2 dozen.

Pass it on!

April 25 2010 10:19 pm | cookies & squares

15 Responses to “Brownies for a Crowd”

Rambles with Reese on 26 Apr 2010 at 12:32 am #

That sounds exciting! I can’t wait to hear all about your star encounter.

I have a brownie recipe, but your version of melting the chocolate and butter first sounds definitely better. I’ll have to try it.

Cheers!
sandra on 26 Apr 2010 at 1:17 am #

Why can not i see your picture in the blog?
Simply Luxurious on 26 Apr 2010 at 6:56 am #

These look fantastic!!! Sounds like you had an amazing weekend. I can’t wait to see the photos!
Jan (Family Bites) on 26 Apr 2010 at 7:05 am #

Wow…what fun! I can’t wait to hear all the details.
JulieVR on 26 Apr 2010 at 7:07 am #

Sandra – sorry, I don’t know! I can see it! Anyone else?
Beverley M on 26 Apr 2010 at 12:16 pm #

Woah, I’m jealous Can’t wait to hear the story!

Photos look fine to me…. Sandra, if you’re looking at it at work, your company may have blocked images thinking it’s spam…. they did that here for a while but they’re back now
Kristin on 26 Apr 2010 at 12:42 pm #

I’m still on my search for the perfect brownies…I’m hoping these fit the bill! The picture sure looks good!
Barb on 26 Apr 2010 at 2:34 pm #

I can hardly wait for the details, too!
Erica B. on 26 Apr 2010 at 4:01 pm #

These look awesome! I’ve been making the recipe on the back of the Fry’s container for years now – maybe its time for a side by side comparison
the other Al on 26 Apr 2010 at 6:58 pm #

Live long and prosper. or I should say sleep long and get some rest! Your brownie recipe has come a moment of weakness. you”ll be hearing from me if I eat the whole pan.
awais on 26 Apr 2010 at 7:23 pm #

Wow i got a dinner trick good thnaks julie
Natalie from Ottawa on 27 Apr 2010 at 7:12 am #

WOW, I LOVE Tahmoh, he is hot hot hot! You are one lucky girl!
Soup for Spock | dinner with Julie on 28 Apr 2010 at 9:24 am #

[...] and naan, and besides blowing a fuse with my panini grill, lunch went well. I made a big batch of brownies and a pan of baklava, and as they sat around the tables the stars commented on how they never get [...]
Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) on 29 Apr 2010 at 3:57 pm #

Sounds like great fun… and who wouldn’t love these brownies?!
Fig-Cranberry Oat Squares | dinner with Julie on 18 Jun 2010 at 10:42 pm #

[...] Blueberry & Ginger Banana Loaves, Cranberry, White Chocolate & Macadamia Nut Cookies, Brownies for a Crowd, Kettle Corn (that everyone ate while watching the World Cup), some Sponge Toffee (that I burnt all [...]