I LOVE brownies\u2026and apparently so do bears!\u00a0 To make a long story short\u2026.\u00a0 Years ago I took a batch of these fabulous brownies on a camping trip at Redfish Lake.\u00a0 The campground host warned everyone about bears & instructed us all to lock our food\/coolers\u00a0in\u00a0our vehicles.\u00a0 If a bear was spotted we were supposed to scare it away by setting off the car alarm.\u00a0 In the middle of the night I heard a car horn honking, but thought nothing of it.\u00a0 I figured someone was trying to scare a bear!\u00a0 Turns out the bear had broken\u00a0our driver’s side window & was climbing in & out of the car (hitting the horn in the process) to get at all of our food!\u00a0 In addition to eating our cheese & lunch meat, the bear polished off an entire pan of these brownies!\u00a0 I still have the pan\u00a0complete with a puncture hole from either a tooth or claw to prove it!\u00a0 Bake a batch for your next outing\u2026but watch out for bears!\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ingredients<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

• 1\/3 c cocoa powder<\/li>
• 1-1\/2 t instant espresso or coffee (optional)<\/li>
• 1\/2 c + 2 T boiling water<\/li>
• 2 oz unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped (see NOTES below for substitution)<\/li>
• 4 T unsalted butter, melted<\/li>
• 1\/2 c + 2 T canola oil (I also use olive oil)<\/li>
• 3 eggs<\/li>
• 2 t vanilla extract<\/li>
• 2 c sugar<\/li>
• 1-3\/4 c flour<\/li>
• 3\/4 t salt<\/li>
• 6 oz bittersweet chocolate, cut into 1\/2″ pieces (or chocolate chips)<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

  Adjust oven rack to lowest position & heat to 350 deg. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Whisk cocoa, espresso powder & boiling water together in alrge bowl until smooth. Add unsweetened chocolate & whisk until chocolate is melted. Whisk in melted butter & oil (mixture may look curdled). Add eggs & vanilla & whisk until smooth & homogeneous. Whisk in sugar. Add flour & salt & mix until combined. Fold in bittersweet chocolate pieces. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Scrape batter into 13 x 9″ baking pan & bake until toothpick inserted halfway between edge & center comes out w\/ just a few moist crumbs attached, 30 – 35 min. Transfer pan to wire rack & cool 1-1\/2 hrs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Cut into squares & serve. Enjoy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  NOTES:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

  • I almost NEVER have unsweetened chocolate on hand. An great substitution for 1 oz unsweetened chocolate is 1 T cocoa powder + 3 T oil<\/em>. So, this recipe would need 2 t cocoa + 6 T oil.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    <\/a>