Brownie Pudding Cake

1 cup all-purpose flour
2/3 cup cocoa powder (unsweetened)
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar, granulated
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, cooled
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/3 cups boiling water
3/4 cups light brown sugar, packed.

  1. Preheat the oven to 350F.
  2. Sift together the flour, 1/3 cup cocoa powder, baking powder and salt; set aside.
  3. In a mixer, using the paddle attachment, mix the granulated sugar, butter, cream, eggs, and vanilla.
  4. Add the flour mixture and beat on low speed until just combined, about 30 seconds.
  5. Spread in an ungreased 8-inch square baking pan; set aside.
  6. Whisk together the remaining 1/3 cup cocoa powder, the boiling water, and brown sugar; pour over batter.
  7. Bake about 35 minutes or until a wooden skewer tests clean.
  8. Serve warm.

Chef: This is the dessert people talk about for weeks later; it doesn't matter what came before it,; this is what they remember. good pudding moisture, large two person Valentine's day serving, pudding is nice all the way through and the caramel is nice. Some salt would be a good topping to match with the caramel.

Personal: I wish I could take credit for this, but this was all our teammate Crystal. I feel so lucky to get to work with someone so passionate about desserts. In addition to that memorable and beautiful presentation, it was a rich, chocolaty treat and the caramel sauce added was a nice touch.

Lessons Learned: Oftentimes there is a line between bakers and cooks, cooks don't like making desserts and bakers don't like dicing mirepoix. Serving a memorable meal, each element can be special and having a dish on either end of the spectrum--appetizer, entree, dessert---that can really stand out is important. W