The Best Brownies...EVER

4 (1 oz) unsweetened chocolate baking squares
3/4 cup butter
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
3 large eggs
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/8 tsp. salt

1. Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease 8-inch pan.
2. Microwave chocolate squares and butter in a large microwave-safe bowl at HIGH 1 1/2 to 2 minutes or until melted and smooth, stirring at 30-second intervals. Whisk in granulated and brown sugars. Add eggs, 1 at a time, whisking just until blended after each addition. Whisk in flour, vanilla, and salt.
3. Pour mixture into prepared pan.
4. Bake at 350 for 40 to 45 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out with a few moist crumbs. Cool completely on a wire rack (about 1 hour). DEVOUR!

Fast Stir-in:
Toasted Coconut-Cashew Brownies: Spread 1 cup sweetened flaked coconut into a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake at 350 for 8 minutes or until lightly toasted, stirring every 2 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes. Stir toasted coconut; 1/2 cup cashews, chopped; and 2 Tbsp. finely chopped crystallized ginger into batter. Increase baking time to 44 to 46 minutes.

Easy Topping Upgrades:
Peanut Butter Streusel Brownies: Stir together 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 2 Tbsp. light brown sugar, 2 Tbsp. granulated sugar, 1/3 cup chunky peanut butter, 2 Tbsp. melted butter, and 1/8 tsp salt until blended and crumbly. Sprinkle peanut butter mixture over batter. Increase bake time to 50 to 54 minutes.

Candy-and Pretzel Brownies: Sprinkle 1 cup pretzel sticks, broken into pieces, and 2(3.7 oz) king-size Snickers, coarsely chopped, over batter. Increase bake time to 52 to 54 minutes.

*I found this recipe in the 2009 Southern Living magazine. They say to bake the brownies in a foil lined pan, and then to use the foil to lift the brownies out of the pan and slice into servings. The first time I made them I followed this suggestion, and it took twice as long for the brownies to bake. The second time I made them I skipped the foil, and they were done baking at the listed time. There is enough batter to bake in a 9x13 pan. This will be my next experiment. In the 8-inch pan they are divine!