Macadamia Nut Fudge Brownies with Kahlua Hot Fudge

It is such an adult combo: Chocolate, Nuts and Liquor.

Yes, Please.

In my humble opinion, the two nuts that are in the superior nut category are Cashews and Macadamia nuts

So while thinking about baking some great new/different brownie’s I went with Macadamia nuts instead of traditional walnuts. Macadamia nuts are mild enough to not overpower the chocolate and provided the precise crunch necessary for splendid baked goods. You could substitute any nut you wish, but I highly recommend these little nuggets.

So lets gather our ingredients and make some chocolate nut filled goodness.

Shopping list:

• 1 cup Hersey Cocoa Powder
• 8 oz plus 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter
• 5 whole eggs, room temperature
• 2 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 2/4 cups all purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 1/2 cups macadamia nuts, raw and un slated, chopped in half
• 1 cup chocolate chips, semi sweet – I like Trader Joe’s
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Here is how you do it…. first preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Then combine cocoa powder and butter in a microwavable bowl. A 2 cup glass measuring cup is perfect. Pop it in the microwave for 30 seconds and stay tuned. Watch for the butter to melt and when it does pull the container out and start stirring.

The goal is smooth chocolate, so if the butter is not melted enough heat it up another 10 seconds to do the trick. Set this aside to cool. Don’t try to taste it, thinking it is dreamy, it is not tasty. Trust me, just wait.

In a separate bowl, combine your room temperature eggs.

and sugar.

Start whipping it together.

I let it mix for a few minutes until it becomes light and fluffy.

Then add that cooled cocoa mixture and mix well.

Now it is starting to take on some chocolate delicious-ness.

In a separate bowl combine your dry ingredients; Flour + Baking Powder + Salt

You are doing great.

This is the super easy part, add the flour mixture all at once and mix until just combined or incorporated.

Remember friends, over mixing flour when baking leads to hard/chewy outcomes. No bueno.

Next add your vanilla and

chocolate chips and macadamia nuts.

Fold these last three ingredients in by hand, no more heavy mixing to spoil the party.

Add some baking grease to a 9”x13” pan

Then dump the thick mixture in. Try not to sample, raw eggs are a touchy subject these days. {I will not confirm or deny that I like cookie dough, cake or brownie batter.}

Smooth out the batter and pat yourself on the back. You are almost done.

Bake for 22 minutes, then rotate the pan in the oven and bake for ANOTHER 22 minutes.

Try to allow to cool before cutting.

DH has a really hard time with this part.

OKAY- so, if they last until dessert hour, try adding this crowd pleaser.

Kahlua Hot Fudge

• 6 oz Chocolate Chips, semi-sweet
• 1/4 cup light corn syrup
• 1/2 lb unsalted butter
• 1/4 heavy cream
• 1 oz Kahlua

Combine all ingredients except the Kahlua in a microwaveable glass dish. Heat for 1 minute and mix until smooth and completely melted. It may take a little longer or a little shorter depending on how powerful your microwave is. Then stir in the Kahlua.

Serve over the top of the brownies with ice cream.

Kathleen’s tip: Hot fudge will keep for several weeks in the refrigerator. Just melt it in the microwave, gently, before serving.

Enjoy Friends, job well done.