CHOCOLATE BROWNIES

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
• .
• Chocolate Frosting:
• 4 ounces butter
• 4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 pound (about 3 1/2 cups) confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 5 to 6 tablespoons evaporated milk or half-and-half, heated

Preparation:

Grease and flour a 9x13x2-inch baking pan. Heat oven to 350°.

In a mixing bowl, combine butter and sugar; beat until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition. Stir in vanilla.

In another bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, and cocoa. Add dry mixture to the first mixture, stirring until blended. Fold in nuts. Spread in prepared pan. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a wooden pick or cake tester inserted in center comes out clean.

Cool in pan on rack.

Frosting:
Melt butter in a saucepan over low heat; stir in cocoa until smooth. Sift confectioners' sugar; add to the cocoa mixture along with vanilla and enough hot milk or half-and-half to make the mixture soft and spreadable. Spoon evenly over brownies and spread to cover thoroughly.

                                    CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 3/4 cup water
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 4 ounces melted unsweetened  baking chocolate

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.Line cupcake pans with paper liners.

Add and combine all the ingredients into large mixing bowl.  Mix at a low speed for 30 seconds, and scrape the  bowl.  Mix at a high speed for 3 minutes.

Fill the liners half to two thirds full of batter.  Bake them for about 20 to 25 minutes or until the toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Take them out of the oven and cool them down for about 10 minutes. and then on a wire rack to cool down completely

add flavored frosting of your choice when they have completely cooled down 

Flavored frosting

Peanut butter frosting:

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 4 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1/3 cup cream
• In a large bowl, beat butter and peanut butter until light and fluffy. Slowly beat in 1/2 of the confectioner's sugar. Mix in 1/4 cup of the cream. Beat in the remaining confectioners' sugar. If necessary, add a little more cream or milk until the frosting reaches a good spreading consistency.

Chocolate frosting:

Ingredients

• 2 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar
• 6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 6 tablespoons butter
• 5 tablespoons evaporated milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• In a medium bowl, sift together the confectioners' sugar and cocoa, and set aside.In a large bowl, cream butter until smooth, then gradually beat in sugar mixture alternately with evaporated milk. Blend in vanilla. Beat until light and fluffy. If necessary, adjust consistency with more milk or sugar.