Palm Beach Brownies with Chocolate Covered Mints

Palm Beach Brownies with Chocolate Covered Mints
Source: Maida Heatter's Book of Great Desserts (Andrews & McMeel Publishing, 1999 ed.), pg. viii.

I made these brownies again a few days ago and they were just as good as ever. This time I made half with York Peppermint Patties and the other half with Andes mints. There wasn't a noticeable difference in taste. The ones with the Andes mints were pretty with the mint green color but the ones with Yorks are equally pretty.

When Maida Heatter's first book (the above-mentioned title) won the James Beard Cookbook Hall of Fame Award in 1998, she accepted her award on stage and began to toss out these brownies to the audience. Everybody clamored for one and went wild.

The original recipe came from a local deli in her area and did not include the mints (that recipe is available in the first edition of this book). She tinkered with the recipe and added the mints which do not melt during baking. I've been itching to make these ever since seeing them featured on the cover of the book.

These brownies are soft, gooey and wonderful. I like them best at room temperature. Every year, just before the holiday break, goodie bags are put together for our hard-working student library employees. This was my contribution to the bag this year.

8 oz. unsweetened chocolate
8 oz. (2 sticks) unsalted butter
8 oz. (2 cups) walnuts, cut into small pieces
5 eggs graded "large"
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1⁄2 tsp. almond extract
1⁄4 tsp. salt
1 TBS. plus 1 tsp. instant espresso powder
3 3⁄4 cups sugar
1 2⁄3 cups sifted unbleached flour
2 bags (14 oz. or 15.4 oz.) York chocolate-covered peppermint patties (I've also used Andes Mints)

(Note: Maida recommends using a Magic Line pan for these.)

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Line a 9 x 13 x 2 inch pan with foil. Place a tablespoon of butter on the foil, melt it in the oven, and spread the melted butter over the foil with a pastry brush.

Melt the chocolate and butter in the top of a double boiler over low heat, stirring ocassionally. Set aside.

Beat the eggs with the vanilla and almond extracts, espresso and sugar on high for about 10 minutes.

Add the melted chocolate on low speed and beat only until mixed.

Add the flour, beating only until mixed.

Stir in the nuts.

Spoon half of the mixture into the prepared pan. Smooth the top.

Place a layer of mints on top, touching each other.

Cover the mints with the remaining chocolate mixture.

Bake for 35 minutes, reversing the pan halfway through baking.

The cake will have a firm top and a toothpick will come out wet - that is ok.

Let stand until cool.

Remove from the pan and remove the foil lining. Refrigerate for several hours or overnight before cutting.

When cutting, you may find that the edges are burned. Trim these off and cut the remainder into long and narrow strips.

Store in an airtight container or wrap each brownie in cellophane.

Chocolate Lulus

Chocolate Lulus
Source: Maida Heatter's Brand-New Book of Great Cookies (Random House, 1995 ed.), pg. 140.

These cookies are very tasty with a strong cocoa flavor and a hint of pepper. I have to confess that I don't detect the pepper - let me know if you do. These are very easy to make and they don't involve a mixer! 

3 oz. semisweet chocolate
4 oz. (1 stick) unsalted butter
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
2 TBS. unsweetened cocoa powder
Pinch of salt
1/2 tsp. finely ground black or white pepper
1 large egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Granulated sugar (for coating the cookies)

Adjust oven rack to center position and preheat to 350. Line cookie sheets with parchment or foil.

Melt the chocolate and butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. 

Mix in the brown sugar. Stir for a minute and remove from the heat.

Sift together the flour, baking soda, cocoa, salt and pepper. Set aside.

Beat the egg slightly with the vanilla.

Add the chocolate mixture to the egg and vanilla.

Add the flour mixture.

Drop rounded teaspoons of the dough onto a piece of foil.

Roll the dough into smooth balls.

Roll the balls in sugar to coat.

Press slightly with a fork.

Bake for 12 minutes, reversing the sheets halfway through baking. Do not overbake. The cookies should be semi-firm on the edges and slightly soft in the middle. They will crisp as they cool. 

Store in an airtight container.

Babka

Babka
(Source: Maida Heatter's Cakes (Andrews & McMeel Publishing, 2011 ed., pg. 218)

A Polish cake traditionally served at Easter but is good anytime, particularly great for breakfast with coffee or tea. I read that most are filled with cream mixtures but this one is not. The lemon zest gives it a notable zing. 

The only trouble I had with the recipe was that it stuck to the Bundt pan that I used. The recipe does call for a tube pan but she says that a Bundt pan is fine as well. If I make it again (and it is good enough to do so) I will be sure to butter the pan generously. If using a shiny, metal pan, the cake will be pale.

1/4 cup warm water (105 to 115 degrees)
1 envelope active dry yeast
1/2 cup plus 1 tsp. granulated sugar
6 oz. (1.5 sticks) unsalted butter
6 egg yolks
3 cups unsifted all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 cup milk
Finely grated rind of 2 medium lemons
5 oz. (1 cup) raisins (either dark or light or a mix)
Optional: Confectioners sugar

Place the 1/4 cup of warm water (105 - 115 degrees) in a bowl. Sprinkle the yeast and add the 1 teaspoon of sugar. Stir with a fork and let it sit for 10 minutes.

After 10 minutes, the mixture will thicken.

Beat the butter until softened and mix in the sugar.

Add the eggs.

Add the yeast mixture.

Add half of the flour.

Add the salt.

Heat the milk to 105 to 115 degrees.

Add the milk.

Add the other half of the flour. Beat on low speed until smooth. Continue to beat for about 3 minutes and then remove the bowl from the mixer.

Spinkle the lemon zest over the batter. Stir with a wooden spoon or a rubber spatula.

Stir in the raisins.

Butter a 10-cup tube pan (I used a Bundt pan and the cake did stick so butter generously)

Pour the batter in the pan and smooth with a spoon.

Butter a piece of plastic wrap, large enough to cover the pan.

Let this rise for about 2 hours (I place mine in the oven with the light on)

Bake the cake at 400 for 5 minutes, then lower the heat to 350 and bake for 30 minutes. The total baking time is 35 minutes. The top of the cake should be slightly browned. If the cake is becoming too brown, cover with foil during the last part of baking.

Remove from the oven and let stand for 10 minutes before turning out on a rack to cool completely. Wrap the cooled cake and let it stand overnight or several hours. The cake can also be frozen. Sprinkle with confectioners sugar if desired.