An all-time family favorite since the early 1980's is this decadent fudge brownies recipe.The recipe is easy make!! These brownies are very moist with a wonderful deep fudgy flavor.A crispy, crackling top and fudge inside!!

Step 1: Ingredients:

4 large eggs, room temp.

1 ½ cups granulated sugar

2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

1 cup unsalted butter

1 ½ cups Ghirardelli's Sweet Ground Chocolate and Coco Mix

1 1/3 cup all-purpose flour

½ teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

½ cup nuts (walnuts or pecans work well), chopped, optional

½ cup bitter sweet chocolate chips, optional

Step 2: Pre-measuring

Pre-measuring the ingredients before beginning any recipe, trust me, you’ll be so grateful that you did! How many times I’ve forgotten, or added too much of an ingredient, simply because I got side tracked by my children or that all important phone call that kept you on the phone forever!!

Step 3: Oven Setting:

Preheat oven to 350°F.

NOTE:When baking, place the brownie pan towards the middle -- or even the upper third -- of the oven.

Step 4: Prep Pan

Prepare pan, butter a 9” x 9” square pan, set aside.

NOTE: I put the butter pan into the refrigerator till need, it’s something I’ve always done.

Step 5: The Batter:

First begin with the butter: Melt the butter in a heat proof bowl in the microwave, 1-2 minutes

Step 6:

In a medium mixing bowl,combine eggs,sugar and vanilla; using a spoon,mixing well (making sure there is no streak of egg whites).

Step 7:

Add melted butter to the mixing bowl, mixing to evenly combine. The warm butter melts the sugar.

Step 8: Sifting:

Sift together the four,sweet ground chocolate and cocoa mix, baking powder and salt onto waxed paper. Discard any dried particles left behind.

Step 9:

Then stir gently into the egg mixture…Mix just until incorporated.

Step 10: Optional:

If including chocolate chips or nuts, stir into the batter.

Step 11: Into the Pan:

pour the batter into the prepared pan, spreading to even out the batter.Top with nuts.

Step 12: Bake:

Place pan into the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes.

Step 13: Checking Brownies:

Stick a toothpick into the center and see how they are firming up. The goal is to catch the precise moment when crumbs stick to your toothpick (actual crumbs, not deliciously goopy batter) and are clumpy and quite moist. The brownies will appear slightly undercooked in the middle, but they are done.