November 11, 2013

Pumpkin swirl brownies

Plate with a stack of pumpkin swirl brownies.

Autumn is my favorite time of year, as I have said many times before. I feel like everyone is rushing to Christmas the past few years as soon as Halloween is over. On my drive home from work on Halloween, I saw that the local mall had hung up all their outside Christmas decor and even a couple radio stations began playing nothing but carols the day after Halloween! That is unacceptable to me. It is still fall and there's still another holiday before we get to Christmas. I enjoy Christmas, but it's still harvest time, there are still leaves on the trees, it is still pumpkin and winter squash time. I'm taking back fall! I have no desire to rush away the autumn breezes and crispy leaves. Last weekend we had our nephew overnight and one of the things we had during his stay were these pretty wonderful brownies that combine pumpkin and chocolate together in one dense and chewy treat. These tasty brownies are adapted from Martha Stewart and were a big hit. I adjusted the spices because the original recipe calls for cayenne pepper and I didn't think a 5 year old would like that (I do use it in  these Mexican brownies though) and I lowered the sugar and changed the oil. I also changed the pan size which resulted in thinner brownies (but I thought they were a nice size).

Top view of a pumpkin swirl brownie.

Pumpkin swirl brownies
1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, plus more for greasing
6 oz. bittersweet chocolate chips
2 cups all-purpose flour, preferably unbleached
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1-1/4 cups sugar, preferably unbleached cane
4 large eggs
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1-1/4 cups pumpkin puree
1/4 cup olive oil
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9x11-inch baking pan with parchment paper so that it overhangs two sides. Butter the exposed sides of the pan well and lightly butter the parchment.

Melt the butter and chocolate together in a double boiler (you can use a heat-proof bowl over a pot of shallow boiling water), stirring until smooth and set aside.

Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside. In a large bowl, or in the bowl of an electric mixer with the paddle attachment, add the sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Beat until fluffy and well-combined (about 3-5 minutes in the electric mixer). Beat in the flour mixture until just combined. 

Divide the batter into two separate bowls (about 2 cups in each). Stir the chocolate mixture into one bowl until combined. In the other bowl, stir in the pumpkin, olive oil, and spices until combined. 

Pour half of the chocolate mixture into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Top with half of the pumpkin mixture and spread evenly, repeat with the remaining chocolate batter and then remaining pumpkin batter. 

Using a butter knife, gently insert it into the pan to almost the bottom of the batter and swirl it across the pan to create the marble effect.

Bake for about 35-38 minutes, until they pull away from the edges of the pan and an inserted toothpick comes out cleanly.

Let cool in the pan. These brownies are best served cool and were the best one day after baking.

Plate of pumpkin swirl brownies with a pumpkin.

23 comments:

  1. I neeeeeed to try these. They're made with things that I pretty much always have around anyway, so it should happen soon. They look so good! So glad you're joining us. :)

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  2. Ohh these brownies sound delicious. I would like one with my coffee now please.

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  3. It was crazy how many christmas decorations appeared on the streets the weekend after Halloween!! I disapprove. The pumpkin love cannot be usurped by peppermint and eggnog! I shall protest with a batch of these brownies.

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  4. Love the color swirls in these. Beautiful!

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  5. i have to confess that essentially the only way i'll tolerate pumpkin is if it's masked by chocolate. so these are great. :)

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  6. Pumpkin brownies are on my "to bake" list! Hope I get to them! These look scrumptious!

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  7. I've never had pumpkin brownies of any sort but I think these look really good.

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  8. I heartily agree that we need to give Thanksgiving some love before the Christmas decorations appear! These brownies would certainly be one way to do it- I love the combination of pumpkin and chocolate. :)

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  9. These swirl brownies look delicious, and since you added pumpkin I'm double in love with them!

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  10. These look so yummy! Pumpkin makes everything taste a thousand times better!

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  11. Hey Amy thank you for leaving a lovely comment!! And welcome to 2 sisters recipes.. WE LOVE brownies and Pumpkin and these are absolutely HEAVEN!! Thanks for a wonderful recipe!
    Warmly, Anna and Liz

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  12. Wow pumpkin swirl brownies! Look great Amy, I wish I could have a piece of this treat.
    Have a wonderful week and yes, I am back :D

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  13. These look delicious Amy! And I'm with you. I wish no Christmas decorations were allowed to come out until after Thanksgiving. By the time the week of Christmas comes around I am so sick of Christmas Carols.

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  14. i love and adore pumpkin all the way...
    i want some of this sweet bites on my lunch box today!

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  15. I've tried making these brownies before, and mine didn't turn out nearly as awesome as yours did!

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  16. I AM RUSHING TOWARDS CHRISTMAS! but only because I've been listening to Hanson's Snowed In for the past two days, and it just brings this ridiculously-huge grin to my face every time I listen :D

    We did see Christmas candy at Rite Aid while buying our Halloween treats, which I thought was kind of funny. I tried to convince my boyfriend that we should just get the xmas Peeps instead - - he didn't go for it.

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  17. These brownies need to happen soon. I love the swirl, it's so pretty! :D

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  18. what a great way to use pumpkin - I've been only making desserts and this one looks so good.

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  19. We love brownies. Never made a pumpkin one, though - why have we been missing out? This looks terrific - thanks.

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