Mascarpone Brownies

This was one layer

So now I had 1/2 c of Mascarpone left and I was going away for a few days to a conference. I needed to use up the remainder of the Macarpone. What to do? What to do? Brownies of course!

Adapted from Food

1 c butter (2 sticks)
3 oz semisweet chocolate
1 1/2 c sugar
1/4 c cocoa
1/2 c Mascarpone
3 eggs
1 t vanilla
1 t chocolate extract
1/2 c flour
1/2 t salt

Ganache:
6 oz semisweet chocolate
6T heavy cream
3T butter
1 t vanilla
1 t chocolate extract
1/2 t salt

Line a 8" square pan with aluminum foil. Melt butter and chocolate in microwave (or on stove top). Sift in sugar, cocoa. Stir in Mascarpone, eggs, vanilla, and chocolate extract until smooth. Gently fold in flour and salt. Pour into pan and bake for 45 minutes at 325. Let cool.

Meanwhile, melt chocolate, heavy cream, and butter in microwave (or on stove top). Remove brownies from pan. Spread ganache over brownies.  Place in refrigerator until firm.  Slice into serving sizes.  Once the ganache is set there is no need to keep them refrigerated. I suggest cutting these into smaller pieces than the usual 16.

I actually removed them from the pan and left the foil to catch any of the ganache spills

Now these are not the ooey gooey kind of brownies that I usually like.  These were quite fudgey and quite good. I brought them to work (I had chocolate mousse to eat too remember) and everyone really liked them. I was accused of making people go off their diets. The chocolate ganache does make them quite decadent.