Recipe: Very Chocolate Brownies (with chocolate-whipped cream topping)

VERY CHOCOLATE BROWNIES

"This recipe won the grand prize in Taste of Home's Brownies Can't Be Beat! Contest."

FOR THE BROWNIES:
4 squares (1 ounce each) unsweetened chocolate
3/4 cup butter
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts or pecans
FOR THE TOPPING:
1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup heavy (whipping) cream, whipped

TO MAKE THE BROWNIES:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 13-by-9-by-2-inch baking pan with foil and grease the foil.

In a microwave or double boiler, melt the chocolate and butter; cool for 10 minutes.

Add the sugar and mix well. Stir in the eggs and vanilla. Add the flour and mix well. Stir in the nuts. Pour batter into prepared pan.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out with moist crumbs (do not overbake). Cool completely.

TO MAKE THE TOPPING:
Melt chocolate chips, water and butter in a microwave or double boiler; stir until smooth. Cool to room temperature. Fold in whipped cream. Spread over cooled brownies. Chill before cutting. Store leftovers in the refrigerator.

Makes 3 dozen
Source: Taste of Home Prize Winning Recipes, Taste of Home Books, 2006