What happens when you add granola — and this case, super-yummy Bear Naked Honey Almond Granola — to from-scratch brownies? Something totally decadent. Sort of a cross between a granola bar and a brownie. And because it has granola in it, I guess it’s healthyish, right? Brownies for breakfast!
Ingredients
3 cups Bear Naked Honey Almond Granola
1/3 cup Dutch-processed cocoa
1 1/2 teaspoons instant espresso (optional)
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons boiling water
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 large eggs
2 large egg yolks
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups sugar
1 3/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon table salt
6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
I bag Bailey’s chips
1 bag Heath Bar Toffee pieces
Directions
Heat oven to 350F degrees. Cover a baking sheet with foil (to toast the granola) and make a foil sling for your 13 x 9-inch pan. Spray the 13 x9 pan with nonstick cooking spray.
Spread the granola onto the baking sheet and pop into the oven for 10-15 minutes to toast. You want the granola extra crunchy so that it doesn’t sog out in the brownies. After 10-15 minutes, take out of the oven and let cool.
In the meantime, whisk cocoa, espresso powder (if using), and boiling water together in large bowl until smooth. Add unsweetened chocolate and whisk until chocolate is melted. Whisk in melted butter and oil. Add eggs, yolks, and vanilla and continue to whisk until smooth and homogeneous. Whisk in sugar until fully incorporated. Add flour and salt and mix with rubber spatula until combined. Fold in half of the granola.
Scrape batter into prepared pan and sprinkle on remaining granola, pressing it in a little bit. Bake until toothpick inserted halfway between edge and center comes out with just a few moist crumbs attached, 40-45 minutes. If you like more cake-like brownies, bake for 5 minutes longer. Transfer pan to wire rack and cool for about 30 minutes.
Using foil overhang, lift brownies from pan. Return brownies to wire rack and let cool completely. These are very fudgy and will be hard to cut unless they are completely cool. Cut into 2-inch squares and serve.
