I’ve been studying the Italian language and one of my vocabulary words this week is cioccolato. It’s fun to say out loud because it sounds like you won the chocolate lottery: Choco Lotto. Chocolate makes everything better. Here’s my recipe for chocolate brownies.

Choco Lotto Brownies

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder ( I used Scharffen Berger)
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 F. Butter and flour an 8-inch cake pan (square if you have it. I used a round one).

In a large saucepan, slowly melt the butter, careful not to let it bubble. Remove from heat, and stir in sugar, eggs and vanilla until blended. Add cocoa, flour, baking powder and salt, and beat until smooth.

Pour into cake pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Makes 16 brownies.

You can frost the brownies if you want, but I like them plain. They complement strong Italian coffee very nicely. I served them with a scoop of Häagen-Dazs Black Cherry Amaretto gelato.

If you make my Choco Lotto Brownies, take a picture and share it in my Mediterranean Diet Facebook group. I’ll love to see your chocolately goodness.