Browned butter brownies

I know.  It's been a while.  Sorry about that, life and all :)  But here's the tasty treat that has brought the Witch out of her long blog silence.  Browned butter brownies.  Yes.  Browned butter brownies.  I've added nuts, caramel, chocolate chunks, fruit jam swirls, s'mores style with graham cracker and marshmallow.  Suffice it to say these are some good brownies.

Damn good brownies.
Just give them a try and you'll be hooked too.

Browned butter brownies
(with butter pecans & caramel)
1 stick butter
1 1/4 c sugar
3/4 c cocoa powder
2T water
1 t vanilla
2 eggs
3/4 t table salt
1/3 c + 1T flour
OPTIONAL
1 cup pecans
1 cup chocolate chunks
caramel sauce
peanut butter
anything else your heart desires!

Method:

Prepare an 8x8 pan by lining with a foil sling.  Spray with non stick spray.
Preheat oven to 335F

In a heavy bottom sauce pan brown butter.  If using pecans toast them in the butter until they smell fragrant, about 3 minutes.  Remove from butter, salt nuts and reserve.

Once butter is golden browned add the cocoa powder, sugar, salt, water & vanilla.  Mix well until it's a thick fudge.  Let sit in pan for 5 minutes.

Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well with a spoon to fully incorporate.
Add the flour, stir by hand +/-60 strokes, until flour is just incorporated.  Add pecans, chocolate, etc.

Pour batter into prepared pan.  Bake 25-30 minutes.  Top will be thin and shatter easily, brownies will be dense and fudgey.

Top with caramel sauce if desired, it'll soak into the brownies and make them delightfully gooey.