Brownie Heart Sandwiches

As you can tell we have a new look! I hope everyone is excited about the new changes as I am. As most of you know I originally started my blog as a food blog and a few month after starting it I realized I wanted to share more “stuff”. Thankfully I found Lauren at Restored 316 Designs who helped my vision come to reality. She was amazing to work with and really captured what I wanted to achieve in my blog. Thank you Lauren!!

On the home page you will see several topics.  If your visiting and still want to know what’s cooking in my kitchen just stop by “All About the Food”.  The new sections are Kids, Mommy, and Random.  The Kid’s section is all about the kids with everything that I find and that I think is neat. It’s my way sharing my finds with you, my readers.  The mommy section is all about you, the mommy!  I have realize after becoming a mommy how “my time” is no longer.  Mommies do so much and so the mommy section is just a little spot for you.  The Random section is a place to share my crazy life.  I’m a mommy to twins, a wife, a daughter, a friend, a full-time worker so my life is a little crazy.  This section will be how I try to juggle it all.  I hope you like the new look of the blog as much as I do!  I would love to hear your comments to let me know what you think.

Ok, to celebrate the new launch of the blog and to go along with the heart in the new logo we have Brownie Heart Sandwiches.  Valentine’s is right around the corner too so I thought these would be great for the upcoming holiday.  These are delicious! The brownies are nice and fudge…the way I like them!  If you have a favorite brownie recipe please use yours and cook to your liking and then use a 2″ heart cookie cutter to cut the sandwiches out.  I know once you find a brownie recipe you love it’s hard to use another.  Martha’s recipe is my go to brownie recipe.  I love it!  These sandwiches do take some time and patience…I have to warn you.  They are adorable and delicious once they are done though.  Enjoy!

Brownie Heart Sandwiches

Print Recipe

Brownies

1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter

8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped

1 1/2 cups sugar

4 large eggs

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray an 8-inch square baking pan with cooking spray.  Line the pan with parchment paper, leaving a 1-inch overhang on two sides.  Set aside.  Place butter and chocolate in a large heatproof bowl set over (but not touching) simmering water; stir frequently until chocolate and butter are melted, about 7 minutes.  Remove bowl from heat; let cool to room temperature, 10 to 15 minutes.

Stir sugar into cooled chocolate mixture until combined.  Whisk in eggs one at a time, whisking until smooth after each addition.  Whisk in vanilla.  Gently fold in flour and salt.

Pour batter into prepared pan, and smooth top with an offset spatula.  Bake until a cake tester inserted comes out with only a few moist crumbs attached, about 35 to 40 minutes.  Transfer pan to a wire rack to cool completely.

Run a knife or offset spatula around the edges of the pan.  Using parchment, lift brownies out of pan and onto the rack.  Transfer to a cutting board; using a 2″ heart shaped cookie cutter cut out about 8 hearts.  Place the 8 hearts in freezer for about 10 minutes.  This will make it easier to cut the brownies in half.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 package (8 ounces) organic Neufchatel cheese, room temperature

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature

1 cup confectioners sugar

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Pink Gel Paste

Using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese, butter, and confectioners’ sugar until smooth; beat in vanilla. Take a toothpick and dip into pink gel paste. Rub the gel off into frosting and mix until well combine. It doesn’t take much of the gel to make the frosting pink. Top each brownie half with 2 tbsp of frosting, place other half on top and gently press down.

Brownies can be kept in a airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.