How Do I Make Brownies With Shiny, Crackly Tops? Good Questions

Q: I make brownies at home frequently, and and have noticed that some brownies bake up with a matte top that almost looks granular. Other times, I get lucky and the brownie crust looks shiny with minor cracks much more attractive and alluring! How can I get that shiny chocolate-y top every time?

I often use brownie recipes where the butter and chocolate are melted together. Egg content can vary from 2 to 4, depending on which recipe I use. So is it the eggs, the method, or the recipe?

Sent by Maureen

Editor: Maureen, according to Shirley Corriher, the author of BakeWise, that shiny, crackly crust is actually a very thin layer of meringue that arises when eggs are beaten into creamed butter and sugar. You can encourage its formation by beating the batter for longer than usual after adding the eggs and before adding any other ingredients. Here's a little more info:

How To Get a Crunchy Top on Brownies

Readers, do you have any other advice for getting shiny, crackly-topped brownies?

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Related: Sweet Potato Chocolate Brownies

(Image: Dana Velden)

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Look! Brownie Pecan Pie

When is it considered too early to start thinking about holiday menus and desserts? My general feeling is September is far too early, although once October rolls around I start to flirt with different pies I may want to serve for Thanksgiving. And this year, we have a new contender: The Brownie Pecan Pie.

This dessert is an example of what occurs when two of my favorite desserts collide, and I can't believe I haven't thought of it myself. It boasts a chocolatey, gooey filling studded with toasty pecans and folded into a buttery crust. While I generally don't use box mixes for much of anything these days, I do appreciate that many folks are in a hurry and sometimes boxed brownies can really hit the spot. My mom makes boxed brownies and while I always lecture her about how easy they are to make, her brownies taste pretty darned good. So the thought of adding a little brownie batter into my next pecan pie is tempting, and will likely happen soon.

Get the Recipe: Brownie Pecan Pie from A Beautiful Mess

Note: while the gals from the blog A Beautiful Mess recommend using a boxed brownie mix, you could certainly make your own brownies instead. Here are a few classic, no-fail brownie recipes to get you going:

Triple Chocolate Chip Brownies - The Kitchn
Chewy Brownies - Brown-Eyed Baker
Fudge Brownies - King Arthur Flour

Related: Recipe: The One-Minute Brownie

(Image: A Beautiful Mess)

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