Name: Christmas Brownies
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1/4 cup butter (2 oz) (unsalted); 2 oz bittersweet chocolate; 1/3 cup molasses; 1 cup sugar; 1/4 cup light brown sugar; 2 eggs; 1 cup a.p. flour; 1 tsp ginger; 1 tsp cinnamon; 1/4 tsp salt (can add up to 1/2 tsp to taste)

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Hubby welcomes these special brownies each year with a “Welcome back, Christmas Brownies.”

Brownies

I love baking brownies. One bowl of magic! It’s a peaceful, quick process of melting chocolate with butter and then adding the few remaining ingredients. Ahhh, it’s those ingredients, though, where the magic lies. Brownies can be changed up so easily by adding one simple ingredient. For these Christmas Brownies, it’s the addition of molasses, ginger and cinnamon that sets them apart.

Start by melting your butter and chopped chocolates.

Remove from heat and add molasses and sugars, whisking to melt.

Add eggs, then dry ingredients, and you’ve got batter ready for baking!

My bowl is warm from sitting over a pan simmering with about 1″ of water. Slowly melting the butter with the chocolate chunks is part of the fun. It’s like whisking your problems away. At first they were chunky; they slowly melt away into a smooth, glossy mixture.

Brownies Meet Gingerbread

The secret to these chewy brownies is the addition of molasses, cinnamon and ginger. It’s combining the flavors of the Christmas season with a family favorite treat. The amount of spices added isn’t overpowering. In fact, you might not immediately realize it’s ginger and cinnamon. By using bittersweet chocolate rather than cocoa, you get a strong chocolate flavor. That helps temper the spices and flavor of the molasses. Like most baked goods, the flavors change a bit after they sit overnight. The flavors are much more pronounced and the molasses flavor is quite strong! Fair warning! If you prefer a more subtle gingerbread flavor, eat these fresh the day they’re baked.

Enjoy!