Symphony Brownies

Symphony brownies are a beginner friendly dessert that will make you look good at whatever potluck/holiday/party gathering where you need to bring something.  All y’all need to do is follow the instructions on the box.  Symphony Brownies are a low effort/high reward baking situation.  People will talk about these brownies for the rest of your life.  Ask me how I know!  

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• Warning!
• Ingredients
• Kitchen Equipment
• How to Make Symphony Brownies 
• Serving Suggestions
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Want more brownies?  
• Recipe
• Recipe

I know y’all hate the back story on these blogs, I normally hate writing them but it’s critical here, okay?  Okay.  So when I got my first job after college, I was basically an administrative  assistant at a research university.  And I spent all of my time with four women who were in their mid to late 50s. These women were the very epitome of southern ladies.  They’d organize all of the parties for the office.  Most days of the week, one of them would stop at Hardee’s and show up at the office with a bag of biscuits.  Don’t even get me started on the ice cream parties they would throw in the summer. 

They taught me the very important lesson of less is sometimes more, because the most important thing was sharing food with friends.   The Symphony Brownies made an appearance at a work party and I was baffled by the sheer decadence of a dark chocolate brownie with just enough milk chocolate in the center.  The simplicity of this dessert is that it starts with a box of brownie mix!

Warning!

If you make Symphony Brownies and serve them warm, you will likely be required to make them everywhere you go.  Just a fair warning. 

Ingredients

1. Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Brownie Mix – This mix brings a deep dark chocolate that is a wonderful contrast to the sweetness of the Symphony Bar. 
2. Egg, Water, and Oil – Follow the package instructions for the specific amounts.
3. Extra Large Symphony Milk Chocolate Bar – This is the secret ingredient that makes these brownies so special.

Kitchen Equipment

• A Mixing Bowl 
• Wooden Spoon or firm spatula
• 1 8x8x2”  pan
• Parchment Paper
• Cutting board
• Sharp Knife

How to Make Symphony Brownies 

1. Preheat Oven to 325ºF. 
2. Line the 8x8 pan with parchment paper.  Make sure to leave enough overhang to pull the brownies out of the pan.
3. In a medium mixing bowl combine the brownie mix, egg, oil and water, according to the instructions on the package.
4. Pour half of the batter into the pan and smooth into an even layer.  Lay the symphony bar on top of the brownie batter.  Spread the remaining brownie batter on top of the Symphony chocolate pieces.
5. Bake for 40-45 minutes. Remove the brownies and place on a wire rack to cool, about an hour.  
6. Remove the brownies from the pan by pulling the edges of the parchment paper up.  Set the cooled brownies on a cutting board.   Run a chef’s knife under hot water and slice brownies into 9 even pieces.  Wipe the knife after each cut. 
7. Enjoy the brownies as a standalone treat, or add a scoop of ice cream for a brownie sundae. 

Serving Suggestions

Symphony Brownies are delicious on their own, but they also pair well with other treats:

• Ice Cream: A scoop of vanilla ice cream on a warm brownie is a classic combination.
• Whipped Cream: Add a dollop of whipped cream. 
• Fresh Berries: Strawberries or raspberries add a burst of freshness that complements the rich chocolate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Want more brownies?  

Start with the Great Brownie Challenge post.  I spent a weekend making 9 different brownie recipes to see if any could beat the tried and true Ghirardelli Brownie mix, and ended up finding a couple of new favorite brownie recipes to try.

Recipe

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