Chocolate Orange Brownies

I was playing with the Our Best Bites Mint Brownie recipe, and I came up with a version that tastes remarkably similar to chocolate orange sticks. One change I made was to the chocolate. Instead of using baking chocolate and chocolate chips, I used a dark Belgian chocolate bar from Trader Joe's. This required reducing the sugar in the brownie batter a bit, and increasing it in the glaze. Then, of course, I made an orange frosting instead of using mint.

I don't bother lining the pan with foil or parchment paper.  That would be useful it you wanted to remove the brownies from the pan before cutting them, but I find that cutting and serving from the pan works just fine.

Brownies

6 ounces Trade Joe's Pound Plus 72% dark chocolate

1 cup butter

4 large eggs

1 3/4 cups sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 1/4 cups flour

Frosting

2 cups powdered sugar

4 tablespoons butter, softened

1 teaspoon orange extract

1/3 - 1/2 cup orange marmalade

orange food coloring

Chocolate Glaze

6 ounces Trade Joe's Pound Plus 72% dark chocolate

6 tablespoons butter

1/2 cup powdered sugar

For the brownies:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 pan with oil.

Break the chocolate into squares. Melt the chocolate and butter together in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds or so.

Using a stand mixer, beat the eggs, sugar, and vanilla together for 2 minutes. While the mixer is running, slowly add the melted chocolate and butter mixture. While running the mixer at low speed, add the baking powder, followed by the flour (in large spoonfuls) until it's just mixed.  Pour the batter into the pan and bake for 20-30 minutes until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.

Let the brownies cool before frosting.

For the frosting:

Using a stand mixer with a whisk attachment, beat all the frosting ingredients.  Start at slow speed until it comes together, then speed it up.  Beat at high speed until it turns lighter in color.

Spread the frosting on the cooled brownies, then put them in the fridge or freezer until the frosting firms up.

For the glaze:
Melt the chocolate and butter together in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds or so.  Use a whisk to combine them well.  Whisk in the powdered sugar.

Gently spread the glaze on top of the chilled frosting.  Then refrigerate or freeze again until the glaze solidifies.