Beautiful Brownies*

By Michelle, 15
National Advisory Committee member

*No Girl Scouts were harmed in the making of this recipe

This brownie recipe is the product of my kitchen exploration trips. I really like raspberries and oranges together, so I love the idea of a chocolaty brownie with the two flavors together!

If you can't find the Hershey's raspberry-flavored chips, substitute regular chocolate chips and check out the cake decorating department of your local craft shop for flavored oils—they're delicious with chocolate, too! Go on some kitchen exploration trips of your own to find and taste your favorite combinations!

Hardware

• Oven
• Oven-mitts or potholders
• Glass baking dish, 8"x8"
• Parchment paper
• Grater or zester
• Spatula
• Cooling rack
• Storage container for your Beautiful Brownies

Software

• Your favorite boxed brownie mix
  (or, if making from scratch, the ingredients of your brownie mix)
• 1 teaspoon orange zest
• 1/2 package of Hershey's raspberry-flavored baking chips or plain chocolate baking chips

Directions

1. Prepare the brownie mix as directed on the box and set oven to directed temperature.
2. Make 1 teaspoon of orange zest. The best way to do this is with the small side of a cheese grater! Just rub the orange on the cheese grater, making sure only to get the orange part.
3. Add the orange zest and half of a bag of baking chips to the brownie mix. Stir well.
4. Line your baking dish with the parchment paper by pulling a piece of parchment over the top of the dish and cutting it from the roll. Now, crease the edges so that the paper is up the sides of the dish and hangs over a little bit.
5. Pour brownie mix into the dish and bake for the amount of time indicated on the box. It might vary a little depending on how your oven works.
6. Test with a toothpick by inserting one into the center of the brownies and pulling out. If it comes out as clean as it went in, your brownies are done! If not, then place back in the oven for 2-minute intervals, testing between each.
7. When done, let your brownies sit for about 15 minutes. Then, remove them from the baking dish by lifting them up from the parchment (didn't putting the parchment make it easy for removal?) Place on cooling rack.
8. When finally cooled, cut using a pizza cutter or a plastic knife. This way, you don't lose precious brownie to the cutting utensil's surface. If using a pizza cutter, wipe off whatever sticks to it in between cuts CAREFULLY with a paper towel.
9. Eat or store but definitely ENJOY!