Imagine combining the rich, fudgy goodness of a brownie with the convenience of a slice of bread. That’s exactly what you get with Brownie Bread—a loaf of chocolaty perfection that’s quick to make and even quicker to disappear. This delightful treat is perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth, whether enjoyed as a dessert, a snack, or even an indulgent breakfast. Let’s dive into the details of creating this irresistible Brownie Bread.
Ingredients You’ll Need
To create this decadent Brownie Bread, you’ll need the following ingredients:
For the Bread:
- 1 cup (168 g) milk chocolate chips: Provides a rich chocolate base for the bread.
- 1 ¼ cups (156 g) all-purpose flour: Forms the structure of the bread.
- ½ cup (59 g) Dutch-processed cocoa powder: Intensifies the chocolate flavor.
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda: Helps the bread rise slightly.
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt: Enhances the overall flavor.
- 3 large eggs, room temperature: Adds richness and helps bind the ingredients.
- 1 ¼ cups (250 g) granulated sugar: Sweetens the bread.
- ½ cup (109 g) vegetable oil: Keeps the bread moist.
- ¾ cup water: Adds moisture and helps blend the ingredients.
For the Milk Chocolate Ganache:
- ½ cup (84 g) milk chocolate chips: Creates a smooth, rich topping.
- ¼ cup (59.5 g) heavy cream: Adds creaminess to the ganache.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Preparing the Bread
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 325°F and spray a 9×5-inch metal loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray. This ensures your bread won’t stick to the pan and will come out easily once baked.
- Melt the Chocolate Chips: In a medium, microwave-safe bowl, add the milk chocolate chips. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until the chips are melted and smooth. Set aside to cool slightly while you prepare the dry ingredients. Melting the chocolate first allows it to cool enough to blend smoothly with the other ingredients later.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, Dutch-processed cocoa powder, baking soda, and kosher salt. This ensures even distribution of the dry ingredients and prevents lumps in the batter.
- Beat Eggs and Sugar: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add the eggs and granulated sugar. Beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. This step incorporates air into the mixture, giving the bread a slightly lighter texture.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the melted chocolate, vegetable oil, and water to the egg mixture. Mix until smooth and fully combined. This creates a rich, chocolatey base for the bread.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until no lumps remain. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the bread dense.
- Pour Batter into Pan: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, smoothing the top with a spatula. This ensures the bread bakes evenly.
- Bake the Bread: Bake for 85-90 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out with a few crumbs but no wet batter. I recommend checking the bread at 75 minutes to avoid overbaking. If the toothpick comes out clean or with just a few crumbs, the bread is ready.
- Cool the Bread: Allow the bread to cool completely in the pan before removing it. This prevents it from falling apart and ensures the ganache can be added smoothly.
Preparing the Milk Chocolate Ganache
- Heat the Cream: Place the milk chocolate chips in a heat-safe bowl and set aside. In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, bring the heavy cream to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Be careful not to let the cream boil.
- Combine Cream and Chocolate: Pour the hot cream over the chocolate chips. Let it sit for a minute or two before slowly stirring until all the chips are melted and the mixture is smooth. This creates a rich, velvety ganache.
- Cool the Ganache: Allow the ganache to cool and thicken slightly before drizzling it over the cooled bread. This ensures it spreads evenly and sets properly.
- Add the Ganache: Once the ganache has cooled slightly, drizzle it over the top of the loaf. Let it set for at least 10-15 minutes before slicing and serving. This final touch adds an extra layer of chocolatey goodness to your bread.
Tips for Perfect Brownie Bread
- Use High-Quality Chocolate: The quality of your chocolate chips will significantly impact the flavor of the bread and ganache. Choose good-quality milk chocolate for the best results.
- Monitor the Baking Time: Start checking your bread at 75 minutes. Overbaking can lead to a dry loaf, and we want it to remain fudgy and moist.
- Cool Completely: Ensure the bread is completely cool before adding the ganache. If the bread is still warm, the ganache may not set properly.
- Serve Fresh: While Brownie Bread is delicious at room temperature, you can also warm slices slightly before serving for an extra gooey treat.
Nutritional Information
For those mindful of their caloric intake, here’s a brief nutritional breakdown per serving (based on an approximate serving size of one slice of Brownie Bread):
- Calories: 306 kcal
Conclusion
Brownie Bread is a delightful fusion of rich, fudgy brownies and the convenience of a loaf of bread. This recipe is straightforward and yields a decadent treat that will satisfy any chocolate lover’s cravings. With its moist, chocolatey interior and smooth ganache topping, Brownie Bread is perfect for any occasion—whether you’re serving it as a dessert, enjoying it with a cup of coffee, or treating yourself to a sweet snack.
Creating this delicious bread is a rewarding experience that combines simple ingredients to produce an extraordinary result. The steps are easy to follow, and the outcome is a dessert that looks as impressive as it tastes. So the next time you’re in the mood for something sweet and chocolatey, give this Brownie Bread recipe a try. Enjoy the process, and most importantly, savor every fudgy, delicious bite! Happy baking!
Imagine combining the rich, fudgy goodness of a brownie with the convenience of a slice of bread. That’s exactly what you get with Brownie Bread—a loaf of chocolaty perfection that’s quick to make and even quicker to disappear. This delightful treat is perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth, whether enjoyed as a dessert, a snack, or even an indulgent breakfast. Let’s dive into the details of creating this irresistible Brownie Bread.
Ingredients You’ll Need
To create this decadent Brownie Bread, you’ll need the following ingredients:
For the Bread:
- 1 cup (168 g) milk chocolate chips: Provides a rich chocolate base for the bread.
- 1 ¼ cups (156 g) all-purpose flour: Forms the structure of the bread.
- ½ cup (59 g) Dutch-processed cocoa powder: Intensifies the chocolate flavor.
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda: Helps the bread rise slightly.
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt: Enhances the overall flavor.
- 3 large eggs, room temperature: Adds richness and helps bind the ingredients.
- 1 ¼ cups (250 g) granulated sugar: Sweetens the bread.
- ½ cup (109 g) vegetable oil: Keeps the bread moist.
- ¾ cup water: Adds moisture and helps blend the ingredients.
For the Milk Chocolate Ganache:
- ½ cup (84 g) milk chocolate chips: Creates a smooth, rich topping.
- ¼ cup (59.5 g) heavy cream: Adds creaminess to the ganache.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Preparing the Bread
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 325°F and spray a 9×5-inch metal loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray. This ensures your bread won’t stick to the pan and will come out easily once baked.
- Melt the Chocolate Chips: In a medium, microwave-safe bowl, add the milk chocolate chips. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until the chips are melted and smooth. Set aside to cool slightly while you prepare the dry ingredients. Melting the chocolate first allows it to cool enough to blend smoothly with the other ingredients later.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, Dutch-processed cocoa powder, baking soda, and kosher salt. This ensures even distribution of the dry ingredients and prevents lumps in the batter.
- Beat Eggs and Sugar: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add the eggs and granulated sugar. Beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. This step incorporates air into the mixture, giving the bread a slightly lighter texture.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the melted chocolate, vegetable oil, and water to the egg mixture. Mix until smooth and fully combined. This creates a rich, chocolatey base for the bread.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until no lumps remain. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the bread dense.
- Pour Batter into Pan: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, smoothing the top with a spatula. This ensures the bread bakes evenly.
- Bake the Bread: Bake for 85-90 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out with a few crumbs but no wet batter. I recommend checking the bread at 75 minutes to avoid overbaking. If the toothpick comes out clean or with just a few crumbs, the bread is ready.
- Cool the Bread: Allow the bread to cool completely in the pan before removing it. This prevents it from falling apart and ensures the ganache can be added smoothly.
Preparing the Milk Chocolate Ganache
- Heat the Cream: Place the milk chocolate chips in a heat-safe bowl and set aside. In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, bring the heavy cream to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Be careful not to let the cream boil.
- Combine Cream and Chocolate: Pour the hot cream over the chocolate chips. Let it sit for a minute or two before slowly stirring until all the chips are melted and the mixture is smooth. This creates a rich, velvety ganache.
- Cool the Ganache: Allow the ganache to cool and thicken slightly before drizzling it over the cooled bread. This ensures it spreads evenly and sets properly.
- Add the Ganache: Once the ganache has cooled slightly, drizzle it over the top of the loaf. Let it set for at least 10-15 minutes before slicing and serving. This final touch adds an extra layer of chocolatey goodness to your bread.
Tips for Perfect Brownie Bread
- Use High-Quality Chocolate: The quality of your chocolate chips will significantly impact the flavor of the bread and ganache. Choose good-quality milk chocolate for the best results.
- Monitor the Baking Time: Start checking your bread at 75 minutes. Overbaking can lead to a dry loaf, and we want it to remain fudgy and moist.
- Cool Completely: Ensure the bread is completely cool before adding the ganache. If the bread is still warm, the ganache may not set properly.
- Serve Fresh: While Brownie Bread is delicious at room temperature, you can also warm slices slightly before serving for an extra gooey treat.
Nutritional Information
For those mindful of their caloric intake, here’s a brief nutritional breakdown per serving (based on an approximate serving size of one slice of Brownie Bread):
- Calories: 306 kcal
Conclusion
Brownie Bread is a delightful fusion of rich, fudgy brownies and the convenience of a loaf of bread. This recipe is straightforward and yields a decadent treat that will satisfy any chocolate lover’s cravings. With its moist, chocolatey interior and smooth ganache topping, Brownie Bread is perfect for any occasion—whether you’re serving it as a dessert, enjoying it with a cup of coffee, or treating yourself to a sweet snack.
Creating this delicious bread is a rewarding experience that combines simple ingredients to produce an extraordinary result. The steps are easy to follow, and the outcome is a dessert that looks as impressive as it tastes. So the next time you’re in the mood for something sweet and chocolatey, give this Brownie Bread recipe a try. Enjoy the process, and most importantly, savor every fudgy, delicious bite! Happy baking!