Cute Lil' Fudge Brownies

Days when you feel sorry for yourself are good days to make brownies.
I also got a call from an old friend today. Ha...also nothing like hearing from someone who has it harder than you do to snap you out of a funk.

Anyways here are some fudge brownies I made that turned out o-m-g delicious. If I ever bake for a wedding I want to make these. With cute little cupcake wrappers to put them in.

Cute Lil' Fudge Brownies
Makes about 7
Adapted from Smitten Kitchen's version of Alice Medrich's in Bittersweet

• 5T unsalted butter
• 1/2c + 2T (125g) granulated sugar
• 7 T (33g) cocoa powder
• 1/8 heaping tsp kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 large egg, cold
• 1/4c (33g) flour

Chocolate Ganache:

• 3-4T chocolate chips
• corn syrup
• fat-free half & half (or heavy cream)
• strawberries, for topping
• powdered sugar, for dusting

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325F and place an oven rack in the lower third of the oven. Prep your pan by spraying it with oil then dusting with powdered sugar. I used a mini cheesecake pan with removable bottoms; you can also use a mini cupcake pan.

Place the butter, sugar, cocoa and salt in the bowl of a double boiler (or use the microwave). Stir occasionally until the butter is melted. Set the mixture aside to cool until it is just warm. Stir in the vanilla, then beat in the egg vigorously. Once the egg is incorporated blend in the flour. When you can't see any more flour remnants, beat the batter vigorously for 40 strokes. Pour into your pan and bake for 25-35 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out just slightly moist.
Let cool completely.

For the chocolate ganache, melt the chocolate chips in the microwave for about 30 seconds and stir until smooth. If it needs more time, do it in 10-second intervals, stirring after each time. Add a drop of corn syrup, then stir in half & half until the chocolate is a spreadable consistency. Drop about a 1/2 tsp onto each brownie and top with a strawberry halve.
Dust with powdered sugar.