Preheat oven to 350F.
Grease foil; set pan aside.
Stir the sugar into the cooled chocolate mixture.
Credit: Blaine Moats
Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating with a wooden spoon just until combined.
In a small bowl stir together the flour and baking soda.
Add flour mixture to chocolate mixture; stir just until combined.
If desired, stir in nuts.
Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan.
Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.
Cool in pan on a wire rack.
If desired, spread Chocolate-Cream Cheese Frosting over cooled brownies.
Remove brownies from pan, using the overlapping foil to lift brownies.
Place on cutting board; cut into brownies.
In a small saucepan heat and stir chocolate pieces over low heat until smooth.
Remove from heat; let cool.
In a medium bowl stir together cream cheese and powdered sugar.
Stir in melted chocolate until smooth.
Rocky Road Brownies:
Sprinkle frosted brownies with 3/4 cup tiny marshmallows and 1/2 cup chopped walnuts.
Mint Brownies:
When preparing brownies, stir in 1/2 teaspoon mint extract with the vanilla.
Sprinkle frosted brownies with 1 cup chopped layered chocolate-mint candies.
Raspberry Brownies:
Spread 2/3 cup raspberry preserves evenly over cooled brownies; cool.
Garnish with fresh raspberries.
Malted Brownies:
When preparing brownies, add 1/4 cup malted milk powder with the flour.
Frost as directed and sprinkle with 1/2 cup coarsely chopped malted milk balls.
Add coffee mixture and 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon with the eggs.
Prepare frosting as directed, except stir 1/2 teaspoon instant espresso coffee powder into the melted chocolate mixture.
Sprinkle frosted brownies with coarsely chopped chocolate-covered coffee beans.
Sprinkle frosted brownies with 1/2 cup chopped bite-size chocolate-covered peanut butter cups.
Caramel-Pecan Brownies:
When preparing brownies, use pecans as the nuts.
Drizzle melted caramel over the batter.
Bake and cool as directed.
If desired, frost and/or drizzle brownies with additional melted caramel.
Coconut-Almond Brownies:
When preparing brownies, use almonds as the nuts.
Sprinkle frosted brownies with 1/2 cup chopped soft coconut macaroon cookies.
Fruit Brownies:
Prepare, cool, and frost brownies as directed.
In a small bowl toss together 1/3 cup sliced fresh strawberries and 1/3 cup sliced banana.
Sprinkle fruit and 1/4 cup chopped peanuts over brownies.
Top servings with whipped cream and, if desired, additional fruit and nuts.
Double-Chocolate Brownies:
When preparing brownies, fold 3/4 cup white chocolate baking pieces into the batter.
If desired, sprinkle frosted brownies with assorted chocolate curls and/or shavings.
2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
