31 Days: Brownie Sand Castles Mix

Welcome to Day 16 of 31 Days of Baking as part of Write31Days October challenge.

Brownies are one of my absolute favorite types of dessert. Anyone else have that addiction? I love fudgy chewy brownies, not those dry cake-like bricks that I know some people enjoy. Sometimes, I'll make up a box of brownie mix solely to eat a couple of spoonfuls of the batter. A spoonful or two or three keeps that chocolate craving at bay for days. I will bake the batter then leave the baked brownies for someone else to eat. Rarely do I frosting brownies. They don't need it. I've never been a huge fan of frosting anyways. When I was a kid, you could tell my dessert plate because the layers of frosting in between cakes would be left and the cake portion cut out with my fork and in my belly. My son does the same thing. My daughter does the opposite. Frosting gone, cake still there.

Brownie Sand Castles Mix
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/3 cup flaked coconut
2/3 cup brown sugar, packed
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup baking cocoa
1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 eggs
2/3 cup oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract

This is a gift giving type recipe.
In a one-quart, wide-mouth jar, layer the first 6 ingredients in the order listed, packing each layer down well. After adding the cocoa, use a paper towel to wipe the sides of the jar to remove any cocoa from the sides; add flour.  Cover filled jar with the lid and tie on a gift card with the instructions.

Instructions: Cream together eggs, oil, vanilla and almond extract. Stir in brownie mix and beat until well blended. Spread batter into an oiled 8-8 baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the center tests done. Cool on a wire rack. Makes approximately 1 1/2 dozen servings.
source: Gooseberry Patch cookbook

What I changed:

I made half the recipe and used my small sized bread loaf pan. I accidentally used a bit more almond extract as the container slipped out of my hand and splashed an unknown amount into the bowl. Crap!

My Thoughts:

I love all the chunky ingredients: coconut, pecans, and chocolate chips. It gives the brownies a great texture. The almond flavoring was a little strong based on my screwup; however I think in future I will leave almond extract out of all my recipes. I love almonds but don't care for the taste of the extract. It is too strong. Both recipes I've tried so far with almond extract have thrown my taste buds off. I also think the recipe calls for too much oil giving the brownies a greasy feel.

I will definitely be making this recipe again but without the almond extract and with less oil.

Till tomorrow...

#Readathon day tomorrow! Woohoo!!!