Sumee's Culinary Bites: Brownies with Sour Cream Chocolate Ganache

Happy and Prosperous New Year to all my beloved readers. Hope this year brings you new joy and hope. May you realize all your dreams and get to eat and savor what you would like! Last year I was in India enjoying this day with all the loved ones. It's a totally different atmosphere over there, or probably since we always visit and are on vacation it feels that way I don't know. But I always fondly remember all the new years spent back home.

So here you are at the doorstep of 2013, leave behind 2012 with these yummy brownies. You can choose to make these plain brownies or top it with ganache. This ganache made from sour cream adds touch of sourness to the sweet brownies.. Yummy treats! Have FUN filled day.. I leave you with these brownies to enjoy. Until next year...

Prep Time: 15 min | Baking Time: 45 to 50 mins | Makes: 8 inch square brownie

Ingredients:

For Brownie -
All-purpose flour - 3/4 Cup
Salt - 1/4 tsp.
Unsalted butter - 3/4 cup
Olive oil - 1/4 cup
Semisweet chocolate morsels - 1/2 cup
Sugar - 1 cup
Cocoa powder - 1/2 cup
Sour Cream - 3/4 cup
Large eggs, at room-temperature - 3
Vanilla extract - 2 tsp.

Ganache -
Sour cream - 1/2 cup
Semisweet chocolate morsels - 1 cup

Method of Preparation:

~ Preheat the oven to 325°F. Spray or butter a 8 inch cake pan.
~ Sift flour, salt and cocoa powder in a medium bowl.
~ In a large mixing bowl keep the chocolate morsels or chopped chocolate ready.
~ In a small saucepan, melt the butter. Add Olive oil to it. Switch off the heat just before it boils.
~ Pour the hot mixture over the chocolate and let it stand for a minute.
~ Now stir it with wooden spoon, so that the chocolate is completely melted.
~ Beat in sugar, eggs and sour cream with vanilla essence at the end. Mix until it's smooth.
~ Gently fold in flour mixture into the batter.
~ Pour the batter into prepared pan and spread it evenly.
~ Bake for about 45 to 50 minutes until inserted toothpick comes out clean.
~ Place the pan on cooling rack to cool the brownies.

~ Now for preparing the ganache.
~ Place the chocolate in a microwave oven safe dish. Stick it into the microwave on high for a minute. Take out for every 20 seconds to mix once and put it back.
~ At the end of the minute, it should be melted.
~ Fold in sour cream and mix it thoroughly.
~ Spread it immediately over the cooled brownies and let it get set. Note that you have to do it quickly, otherwise ganache will harden and it will make it difficult to spread it on the brownie.
~ Cut them into square after the ganache has been set and enjoy the yummy goodness.