Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons canola or other neutral tasting oil
  • 4 ounces semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
  • 3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup white sugar
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
  • 2 large eggs, cold
  • 1 tablespoon cold brewed coffee
  • 1/4 cup cocoa powder
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

Method

  • Position rack in the lower third of the oven and heat oven to 325 degrees F. Use an 8 by 8 silicon baking pan or line a similar sized metal or glass baking dish with foil or parchment paper so it hangs over the edges by about 1 inch.
  • Spray the prepared pan completely.
  • Put the butter, oil and chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl, and heat at 75 percent power for 2 minutes.
  • Stir, and microwave again until completely melted, about 2 minutes more.
  • (Alternatively put the chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl.
  • Bring a saucepan filled with 1 inch or so of water to a very slow simmer; set the bowl over, not touching, the water, and stir occasionally until melted and smooth.)
  • Stir the brown and white sugars, vanilla and salt into the chocolate mixture with a wooden spoon.
  • Add the eggs and coffee and beat vigorously until fully incorporated and the batter is thick and glossy.
  • Add the cocoa, flour and baking soda and stir just until it disappears.
  • Pour the batter into the pan and bake until the top is crispy and a toothpick inserted
  • into the middle comes out with a few crumbs, about 30 minutes (40 minutes if not using silicon).
  • Cool the brownies in the pan on the counter.
  • Lift brownies out of the pan by the foil, if needed.
  • Peel off the foil and cut into 2-inch squares.
  • Serve.
  • Store extra brownies in a tightly sealed container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
  • Cooks Notes: These brownies started with our HTBW originals.
  • First we made these healthier by cutting out over half of the butter.
  • To keep their fudgy quality, we added in a little canola oil.
  • Then we reduced both eggs and sugar by half.
  • But we still needed the richness and liquid that they were giving us.
  • So we switched from unsweetened chocolate to a combination of semisweet and cocoa powder.
  • We reduced some flour, and added coffee and more vanilla extract for rich flavor.
  • We were still missing the texture that the eggs had given us, so we added in a little baking soda to get a better rise.
  • Lastly, we switched from a lined and buttered baking pan to a silicon baking pan that didn't require any extra butter or spray.
  • We came up with something that is still rich and fudgy with a gorgeous crackle top, but we feel much better about eating these!