As the story goes, the other day I saw a tweet about a Food Photo Competition from Leite’s Culinaria. I was all ears! I love food photos and competitions. So what if I don’t seem to win them, but taking a shot is always good! It was simple to enter. Find a recipe on Leite’s Culinaria that looks interesting to you, whip it up and make it strike a pose! Leite’s Culinaria is one of those places where the ‘want to make now‘ choice is ample, and it was a tough decision…
I spent the rest of my day browsing recipe after recipe on the site, and was amazed at how many I had bookmarked. There were so many I wanted to try, but eventually stopped short at ‘Robert’s Absolute Best brownies‘ from David Lebovitz’s latest book ‘Ready For Dessert‘. Of course, what I didn’t take into account was the fact that I never find chocolate stuff easy to click. Too late I guess, because the heart was set on these indulgent brownies! His introduction to the recipe had me sold, and I HAD to make them soon. 
In Monsieur Lebovitz’s words {I could almost see his cynical expression as I read the commentary} …
I have a blanket mistrust of any recipe with a superlative in the title. “The Ultimate” or “The World’s Finest” always makes me raise an eyebrow. But how else can I describe these brownies? I’ve made a lot of brownies in my life, and these really are the best. I learned to make them from the late Robert Steinberg, who changed the world of American chocolate when he cofounded Scharffen Berger chocolate. Part of Robert’s unique charm was that he was quick to argue and that he, like most people who hold strong opinions on things food-wise, was invariably right when you would taste the results.
He adapted his brownie recipe from one by cookbook author Maida Heatter. The first time I made the brownies, they were a dry, crumbly disaster. Unconvinced that they were worthy of their accolades, I listened carefully as he walked me through the steps. When he asked if I had stirred the batter vigorously for 1 full minute, I stammered and then finally admitted that I cut that step short. “Aha!” he said. So I made them again, and discovered that was one life-changing minute.
I had the butter and chocolate in a pan in a jiffy, a baker on a mission, on a brownie high! Of course it was another matter that we ran into a major power outage by the time I was done stirring the batter VIGOROUSLY for 1 whole minute {gosh, didn’t think a vigorous minute would be so long!} Just as I turned the batter into the tin, and popped it into my nicely preheated oven, DING! There was a power-cut, and I was gutted! But then, having gotten used to such hapless situations more often than warranted in the summer, I just let the batter sit in the oven. What could go wrong? In any case there was no baking powder in it … ho hum! I aired my grievances on twitter … here’s a teenie bit of the banter…
davidlebovitz: @vindee 2 hours? I couldn’t wait that long. I’d just eat the batter : )
vindee: @davidlebovitz LOL … I might hv had a go if I hadn’t been so egg phobic. Fought the daughter off though. She was ready to dive in!!
Clichéd as it may sound, these did indeed turn out to be the best brownies ever. Fudgy, chocolaty and very ‘perfect-brownie like’ in taste. They baked well despite the fiasco I had with the power outage. I had to fight the kids to stay away from them, and predictably, they didn’t last very long. It’s a drop dead simple recipe, and a one-bowl one. Pay attention to that vigorous minute, you must. It might seem never-ending, but it seems to hold the secret to this great recipe.
Robert’s Absolute Best Brownies
Recipe posted on Leite’s Culinaria from David Lebovitz, Ready for Dessert
Makes 9 to 12 brownies
Ingredients
6 tablespoons (3 ounces) unsalted or salted butter, cut into pieces, plus more for the pan
8 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, or pecans, toasted and coarsely chopped
Method
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
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They look like the best brownies! And I normally don't like nuts in my brownies.
So sinfully delicious!
They look beautiful and so irresistible! Divine!
cheers,
Rosa
They look absloutley beautiful and so so yumm. It is bad weather here and i so wish i had few of this ( well at least 2 ) with my coffee.
Lovely n delicious brownies..
Beautiful looking brownies. Love it.
Absolutely divine..love your variations too!
Lovely brownies dear Deeba, huggs xoxoxo gloria
LOL.. i can see your family sipping through the main meal to get to these brownies or any of the desserts you make!! :DD… lucky kids I say!
Hmmmm- these brownies could not look more perfect!
Beautiful brownies! They look so fudgy! I would LOVE to try one! BTW, all these photos are winners! Just lovely:)
Divine dessert! I love, love love brownies!
They look scrumptious. I'll have to try them out.
I love trying new brownie recipes so I'm very excited you posted this. There's nothing like chocolate for a pick me up.
Fabulous! You can't go wrong with a recipe that David Lebovitz puts in print!
I've always found the less flour in a brownie, the better I like them. And these meet the bill! And I love the choices of nuts and even dried fruit. I am not a walnut lover so I'd go the pecan or almond route.
Nice and dark too, Deeba!
I am glad I stopped by as I am planning to bake some Brwownies for the weekend and until now wasn't sure which recipe to follow. Now I know!
Ready for dessert? This isn’t a question for me – you know the answer!
Awesome brownies – pure sweetness here.
Thanks Deeba for this incredible luscious pictures and to David for the recipe! 🙂
Cheers,
Gera
These look beautiful and your photos are just gorgeous! I love David Lebovitzs' books, he is the king of desserts. You are a wonderful baker and a master of snaps!
Lucky you! I still have until September 1st before my kids go back! We've had a couple of power outages here in the last few weeks. UGH – so glad they all worked out!
I probably would have eaten the batter. Gorgeous as usual!
Mmmmmmm, these look scrumptious! 🙂
they really do seem simple. just one question Deebs. When you mix in the sugar to the melted choco-butter mixture, its super hot right? And then you add the eggs next when its still hot? Won't that slightly cook the eggs? Or, is that the idea?
I wish I could rate this post – 5 stars!
The best brownie I hv come across…too good.
Lovely clicks and a beautiful recipe. Love to try it out.
Drooo..ooooling all over the place Deeba!!! I am sold!!! Your pics are perfect as usual. School re-opening sure is a BIG reason to rejoice, second u:-))). At the cost of sounding like a wicked step-mom,I feel like celebrating(with a bake) my kids going to school in the morning everyday!!
Great brownies mama and superb quote at the top. Think I needed that. hope you have been good and sorry i've been pretty out of touch lately. lots of love. x
I would have eaten the batter raw too, but then again these would be much better baked so I would suffice with licking the bowl.
I am a bit iffy about raw batter too but might have been tempted! I certainly have to get me that book!! They do look "ultimate" indeed!
They look great Deeba although your powercuts would drive me nuts!!!!
Beautiful pictures, I hope you win the competition.
BEAUTIFUL BROWNIES.I can understand the powercuts,but still the brownies came out PERFECT.The patience makes it extra sweet
Deeba you temptress you! 😛 They do look magnificent and your photographs are as always, absolutely divine! 😀
Love, love brownies. These just look wonderful.
They look great…glad you like them as much as I do! : )
You could make mud look mouthwatering and fabulous! These brownies look absolutely delicious and your pictures are stunning! Love the all brown and white atmosphere.
Hmm… I love how many nuts are in these. I also like that it's less butter and more chocolate, unlike most brownie recipes. I will give this one a go!
These are amazing looking brownies! But then I have never met a brownie I didn't like.
These are amazing looking brownies! But then I have never met a brownie I didn't like.
Shows the importance of a single minute of life!! These look scrumptious!
Gorgeous brownies, stunning photos.
Ooooooh yummy yummy brownies. I saw these on the food porn pages. Now that I know they are your brownies daaaaahling, I must ask you to share one with me 🙂
*kisses* HH
Hope you do well in the photo comp! The brownies look gorgeous. I am sure they tasted divine after waiting so long to eat them.
Power outage? We have these several times a day over here! Love your brownies, they look as brownies should! and the generous use of nuts right up my alley!
I simply love your blog. your photos are always very charming. When I read that you too find chocolate hard to photograph i felt relief.I'll explain: i have been struggling to get good chocolate photos. I even reached out to Mowie for help. This brownie has made my mouth water.
hmm now i'm hungry for some chocolate myself 😉
I've made a David Lebovitz's brownie before and he does not disapoint! These look wonderful. Thanks for the recipe, I'll give it a try.
I admire your patience and talent in taking food shots. And fully enjoy the way you make the shot variety in terms of angle and props.
I know that takes a lot of time, but you (as I do) know that it is all worthwhile….
And afterall, great photos for a great recipe 🙂
Sawadee from Bangkok,
Kris
Gorgeous photos Deeba, good luck, find it hard to believe when you say you don't win antyhing!
The brownies look so sinful, I'm definitely going to try my hand at them, the idea of mix-ins sold me 🙂 And yes, I will give it the full vigorous minute.
Hi,i´m from spain and i don´t speak english very well.I love your blog,your recipes,your pictures…everything.It is so beatiful.i hope that visit my blog.Thank so much.
They look divine and I love how nutty they are. Who would have thought that 1 minutes could make all the difference
I am a brownie fanatic, so I'd be really interested in trying "the absolute best" brownies!
Oh deeba…..
i too thought of participating in the photo competitition, just cos i love shooting foodie pics and love partcipating in foodie photo contest……Thought of baking this brownies, but skipped it to katherine hepburns's since u have already baked it……As you said shooting chocolate based pictures are tuff and i too had tuff time deciding on what to choose and went bookmarking loads before i got fixed with this brownies…Thanks for letting me know and good luck to u…..BTW, ur pics are real good and u know u have always been one of my greatest inspirations especially on photography….I have learned loads, and yet to learn alot….
loved the pic of ur mango bavarian cream cake….looks heavenly.
Love,
shab.
Hi Deeba,
I made these brownies during the weekend and they sure are my Absolute Best Brownies too! Thanks so much for sharing. I have posted it in my blog. Although my clicks are just plain and simple. I had a dream the night I made these brownies. That I visited your place and met you to learn baking and photography from you. But when the dawn broke I was all frowns to realize it was a dream. No words to explain how much your blog is admired and looked upto by bakers in India. You are an inspiration to many.
Link to my brownie post: http://amchi-bong-konnexion.blogspot.com/2011/03/choco-nut-brownie.html
Regards,
Seema
I’ve made these brownies so many times – they’re absolutely perfect and the best brownies I’ve ever eaten. Thank you for this post!
I enjoy, lead to I discovered exactly what I used to be having a look for. You have ended my 4 day lengthy hunt! God Bless you man. Have a great day. Bye
Hello Deeba,
Am a silent follower of your beautiful blog! I love the clicks, the write ups and above all the humility in your words!
I tried this recipe on friday and i must say i was so excited about the way they turned out! Shared with a few friends who loved them as well!
Thank you so much, you are truly an inspiration!
Cheers
Thank you Zoya. Your wonderful words made my day. So glad the recipe turned out good. YAY!!