Who needs a chocolate fix?

While it has been unseasonably warm for January in Edmonton, winter is far from over and the urge to curl up on the sofa with a good book and a warm gooey treat is still strong. If I'm short on time or energy, the gooey treat of choice has to be my brownies. They are ridiculously quick and easy to make - you don't even need a mixer! Just a few simple ingredients, a bowl and a stirring implement of choice (I'm a spatula girl myself...far superior to wooden spoons if you ask me), and voilà! Chocolate craving crisis averted, you can dive back into your book or movie to escape the snow and cold. The only way you can improve these brownies is to serve them with a bowl of vanilla ice cream... warm brownie, cold ice cream - it's a combination that's hard to beat.

Julia's Chewy Gooey Brownies

These are dense, rich, gooey brownies - not cakey or light. Icing these would be a crime.

1/4 Cup (60 g) unsalted butter, melted

6 Tbsp (50 g) cocoa powder

1 Cup (201 g) granulated sugar

2 egg whites

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 Cup (71 g) flour

2 tsp (10 ml) vanilla

1 Cup (185 g) chocolate chips (I prefer Callebaut, but your favourite chips should do just fine)

(optional: 1/2 Cup toasted, chopped nuts such as pecans, walnuts, pistachios)

Preheat oven to 300F. Spray 8-inch square baking pan with non-stick spray. In a large mixing bowl, mix together melted butter and cocoa powder until no lumps remain. Add the sugar, egg whites, vanilla, and salt and stir to combine. Mix in the flour, then add the chocolate chips (and nuts, if using), and stir to distribute evenly.

Pour batter into prepared pan, and spread batter to the edges. Place on centre rack in oven and bake for 30-35 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool for about 5-10 minutes before cutting into squares. Serve warm on their own, with a bowl of ice cream or a big glass of milk. These can also be enjoyed fully cooled, but why wait?