easy fudge brownies

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/107279181 w=640&h=361]

{click to watch on vimeo or youtube}

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If you’ve been following La Vida Movita on facebook, you know I’ve spent the past two weeks trying to learn the ins and outs of shooting video. After my video class was cancelled twice this summer, I decided to school myself, which has resulted in several armpit selfies and a couple of severely traumatized cats. It’s completely addictive. And makes me want to throw a toilet when I can’t figure something out. Enter these brownies.

When we’re in a state of brownie/learning emergency, this is my go-to recipe. I can get them into the oven in under 15 minutes. Only six ingredients, all of which live in my house full time. You can top theses babies with icing sugar or frosting, eat ’em plain or trick ’em out with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a river of hot fudge sauce. I’ve made two pans this week, and I’m quite sure they’ve improved my understanding of frame rates and use of manual focus.

. . .

Easy Fudge Brownies

print and bake

recipe: adapted slightly from a family recipe

Yields one 8×8 inch square pan.

  • 1/2 cup butter, plus 2 tablespoons butter set aside
  • 6 tablespoons cocoa
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • confectioner’s sugar for garnish (optional)

Mise en place – begin by getting organized. Read through the entire recipe before beginning. Measure out all of your ingredients.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease an 8×8 inch square baking pan.

In a saucepan, melt 1/2 cup butter over medium low heat. Once melted, stir in the cocoa and additional butter (2 tablespoons). Remove from heat.

Add the sugar and mix to combine. Stir in the eggs, one at a time. Stir in the vanilla. Finally, stir in flour.

Spread evenly in your prepared pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until cake tester inserted in the centre comes out clean – a few moist crumbs on the tester are ideal. The edges of the brownies may be pulling away from the pan slightly. The centre of these fudgy brownies should soft and creamy, so avoid over-baking. Err on the side of slightly under-baked if you want a fudgy center.

Cool on a wire rack (in the pan), slice and then use a mesh sifter to sprinkle with confectioner’s sugar.

33 Comments

  1. Joan on September 27, 2014 at 11:14 am

    Did u know i love brownies lol



    • movita beaucoup on September 27, 2014 at 11:21 am

      Too bad I gave ’em all to Emma…



  2. Michelle @ MakeMeCake.Me on September 27, 2014 at 11:32 am

    Incredible video! It had so many lovely images. Very much culinary/baking eye candy 🙂 How have you been teaching yourself? Is there a certain website?



    • movita beaucoup on September 27, 2014 at 5:36 pm

      Thanks, Michelle! And I wish! My self-teaching method is mostly trial and error, as I haven’t found any good online courses. I have signed up for a class in November – fingers crossed it won’t be cancelled!



  3. Stacy on September 27, 2014 at 12:10 pm

    I am completely unsurprised that eating brownies has increased your video making abilities. You did a fine, fine job! I give, in evidence, this link. http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-20356613
    Keep making brownies. The video knowledge will increase.



  4. Stacy on September 27, 2014 at 12:11 pm


    • movita beaucoup on September 27, 2014 at 5:37 pm

      FINALLY! Proof that I should be eating brownies EVERY DAY!



  5. Willow @ Will Cook For Friends on September 27, 2014 at 12:11 pm

    Oh man. Now I seriously want some brownies. I love the staggering of still shots and motion in the video, too. I think I like this one the best, so far. 🙂



    • movita beaucoup on September 27, 2014 at 5:41 pm

      Guess what? Not a single still shot was used – at least no photo stills, if that’s what you meant. You and your pro lingo! So, I had to be very, very still. Willow? It was SO HARD FOR ME. Because I’m very jiggly. Even with a tripod.

      Now, I’m waiting to see video footage of your dog. Please for you to make for me. Okay?



  6. thatskinnychickcanbake on September 27, 2014 at 12:26 pm

    I hope you saved at least one of the armpit videos…for the out-takes section when your videos go viral. I love having a pantry brownie recipe at my disposal. Thanks!!!



    • movita beaucoup on September 27, 2014 at 5:41 pm

      I’m thinking about making a promo video. I’ll add in some pit shots.



  7. Teri Byrne on September 27, 2014 at 12:38 pm

    by goLLy::::you did it again, you sugary thang, you!

    teri
    Oregon



    • movita beaucoup on September 27, 2014 at 5:42 pm

      I do it all for you, Teri!! xox



  8. Maureen | Orgasmic Chef on September 27, 2014 at 7:13 pm

    What’s the largest text I can use here??? OMG I LOVE THIS!!!!

    No jokes or foolishness. Get off your toes and make movies because I will stand in line to go to them. You are so incredibly talented.

    Now jokes.

    When you poured the batter and then showed us the sugar and then swooshed the batter back to the pan – is that because you forgot the sugar and had to put it all back in the pan and stir it up again? We’ve all done that but not on video.

    xx



    • movita beaucoup on October 3, 2014 at 9:40 am

      Yes. I forgot the sugar, used magic to reverse the batter/go back in time, and then stirred it again. Magic skills took up about 6 weeks at baking school – longer than any other unit. Because it’s very, very important.



  9. Maureen | Orgasmic Chef on September 27, 2014 at 7:16 pm

    oh.. p.s. we need a photo to pin 🙂



  10. sarah on September 27, 2014 at 9:20 pm

    hey I love the look of the video! The music and simple visuals are beautiful, mouthwatering and made me wish for a glass of milk and a big bite out of one of those rich square in the last shot.
    GREAT!



  11. Broma Bakery on September 28, 2014 at 2:54 am

    THIS IS BEAUTIFUL. You’ve done a great job with movement and aesthetic. Made me want to take a huge bite out of these darlings. Great job!



    • movita beaucoup on October 3, 2014 at 9:40 am

      Thank you!! You’ve got a great eye, so this means a lot coming from talented you!



  12. Katherine on September 28, 2014 at 5:15 am

    MORE OF THIS. Seriously, I could watch your videos for hours on end. How on Earth are you getting this light?? It’s gorgeous.



    • movita beaucoup on September 30, 2014 at 12:13 pm

      I chase the light. As in: I run around the house chasing it all day. Not so hard in the warm months, but this time of year? MOTHER OF PEARL. It’s exactly why I need a production team to help out. But 2.0, effie and niles REFUSE. {le sigh}



  13. shannon on September 28, 2014 at 8:23 am

    i want to marry that video: something about the combo of peaceful music and watching brownie batter un-pour itself out of the pan makes me feel like taking a nap. ON the brownies.

    Katherine, that light? it’s called “CANADA.” They are obviously hoarding the ethereal light up there.



    • movita beaucoup on October 3, 2014 at 9:41 am

      We DO like to hoard light, but for the next few months we’ll only get about 4 hours a day, so can you blame us?

      Also, beds are made of brownies in Canada.



  14. ironwoodfarm on September 28, 2014 at 10:52 am

    I love movideo! (and I REALLY love effie’s feature documentary)…your continued creativity inspires me to stop sitting on my butt. xo



    • movita beaucoup on September 30, 2014 at 12:11 pm

      I am absolutely stealing your clever “movideo.” I will pay you for rights in sushi.



  15. Melissa on September 30, 2014 at 9:07 pm

    Is there anything you can’t do? My feelings of inadequacy surface when I’m around you yet you’re
    bewitching and draw me back in, just to see what you’ll do next.



  16. tworedbowls (@tworedbowls) on October 1, 2014 at 10:48 am

    YES!!!! I’m loving your foray into video and this masterpiece — that ribbon of brownie batter is everything good in life. (Plus the reverse shot!! I find reverse shots unreasonably fun.) Yayayay for movideos!!!!!



  17. allythebell on October 1, 2014 at 11:10 am

    Seriously, the videos are boss. And I know you won’t go ahead with it, but I’ve also nominated you for the One Lovely Blog Award! You can see the details here: http://alidoesit.wordpress.com/2014/10/01/one-lovely-blog/



  18. themessybakerblog on October 1, 2014 at 5:27 pm

    I have yet to master the art of video. Why must I be so inept? I’ll take a pan of tricked out brownies so I can eat my way through my sorrows.



  19. natalie @ wee eats on October 2, 2014 at 7:15 pm

    first – i have to make these brownies. brownies that require melted chocolate enrage me because i get all angry having to chase chocolate chips and shaving around the counter and at least half of the chocolate ends up melted into my hands or onto my cutting board.

    second – I’M LOVING YOUR VIDEOS. For reals.

    third – I’ve always wanted to learn that whole video thing but I don’t forsee it happening in the near future since a> i have no video camera and b> i have no editing software… oh, and c> i have no skillz. zero. zip. zilch.

    now, brownie time.



  20. Odette on October 19, 2014 at 3:15 pm

    This a beautifully shot video. I just made this and I am currently enjoy their still warm chocolaty goodness. Thanks!



    • movita beaucoup on October 19, 2014 at 7:03 pm

      Thanks so much Odette!



  21. movita beaucoup on June 27, 2016 at 7:20 am

    Comments on this post are now closed as it was published in September 2014.