Three Passover brownies stacked on top of each other on a white plate.

5 / 8 votes

Passover Brownies

Passover brownies are almost always disappointing. Not these. How could they be with matzo meal for Pesach, bittersweet chocolate, sugar, butter, eggs, brandy, and nuts? They're slightly crumbly outside and splendiferously fudgy inside.

Prep Time15

Cook Time45

Total Time1

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Jewish

Servings: to 12 servings

Calories: 393

Ingredients

▢ 3/4 cup matzo cake meal or matzo meal, (See FAQs above)
▢ 1 cup granulated sugar
▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, or seeds from 1/4 vanilla bean
▢ 5 ounces bittersweet chocolate
▢ 5 tablespoons (2 1/2 oz) unsalted butter, plus more for the pan
▢ 2 large eggs
▢ 1/4 cup brandy or chocolate liqueur
▢ 1/4 to 1/2 cup roughly chopped walnuts
▢ 1/4 to 1/2 cup semisweet or bittersweet chocolate chips or chopped chocolate, (optional)

US - Metric

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F (170°C). Butter an 8- or 9-inch square baking pan.
In a large bowl, mix together the 3/4 cup matzo cake meal or matzo meal, 1 cup granulated sugar, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
Melt the 5 ounces bittersweet chocolate and 5 tablespoons (2 1/2 oz) unsalted butter in a medium-ish to large-ish saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally, until smooth.
☞ TESTER TIP: Or you can opt to toss them in a glass microwave-safe bowl and nuke them until the chocolate just starts to lose its shape, checking every 30 seconds or so. As soon as you stir the chocolate, it will melt completely. Stir until smooth.
Stir the flour mixture into the chocolate mixture. Add the 2 large eggs, 1/4 cup brandy or chocolate liqueur, 1/4 to 1/2 cup roughly chopped walnuts, and 1/4 to 1/2 cup semisweet or bittersweet chocolate chips or chopped chocolate, if using, and stir just until incorporated.
Scrape the batter into the prepared baking pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out dry, about 45 minutes. You should probably start checking the brownies for doneness at 30 minutes.
Let the pan of chocolatey goodness rest at room temperature for a few minutes or, if you prefer a moister brownie that's slightly less crumbly, if you can stand the wait, let them linger on the counter overnight before cutting into squares. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

Make it Parve—Please make sure that all your ingredients are kosher for Passover. Binyamina Chocolate Liqueur, Carmel Brandy 777, Lieber's Pure Vanilla Extract (Kosher for Passover), B'gan Unsalted Margarine (in place of the butter, if eating meat at the meal), Elite Bittersweet Chocolate, and Glicks Real Deal Semi-Sweet Dark Chocolate Chips are all certified kosher for Passover.

Nutrition