Lunch Lady Brownies

Remember school lunch when you were a kid?  It's much different now.  Like, when I was in school, there weren't a bunch of choices ranging from healthy to not so much.  Today's kids get to choose between pizza, smoothies, salads (2 kids in the history of my classroom, ever), sandwiches, cereal, and a daily special.  It's like going out to eat with that kind of menu every lunch!  When I was a kid, if you bought lunch, you got whatever was being served that day.  No "do you want apples or raisins?  Cheese on the chili or on the side?"  You got what was served.  And, if you were super lucky, what was served came with lunch lady brownies on the side.

You know the brownies I am talking about.  They are chewy and rich and fudgy, and then there's chocolate frosting poured on top while they are still warm.  Even better news: they are quick and easy.  The brownies themselves are only made with 6 ingredients, and you only use one bowl.  They're basically the perfect recipe to bring to a family party, like I did, or to make and devour by yourself; I won't tell on you.  You might want to serve them with ice cream just because you can.  You're not a kid anymore - you can have brownies and ice cream for dinner.

Recipe:

lunch lady brownies
from Life in the Lighthouse
yields 12 large or 24 small brownies

Ingredients:
1 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
4 large eggs
4 teaspoons vanilla extract
for chocolate frosting:
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3 cups powdered sugar

Instructions:

1) Preheat oven to 350.  Line a 9x13-inch baking dish with foil and spray foil with non-stick spray.  Set aside.

2) In the bowl of an electric stand mixer, add the melted butter and cocoa powder.  Using the paddle attachment, blend until smooth.

3) Add the flour and sugar.  Beat together and then add eggs and vanilla.  Mix until just combined.  Do not overtax.  Batter will be thick.

4) Pour batter into prepared baking dish and spread out evenly.  Bake 25 - 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in venter comes out clean.  remove brownies from oven and let stand 15 minutes before frosting.  You want the brownies still warm when you frost them!

5) While brownies are cooling, beat together all the frosting ingredients until smooth.  Pour and spread over warm brownies.  Let cool completely before cutting and serving.