Orange Brownies

OK, before you go, “Eew, that sounds disgusting,” hear me out. These aren’t chocolate brownies with orange indiscriminately tossed in ‘cause that probably could be disgusting. Unless … Oh, but I digress. These are brownies made with orange instead of chocolate. They are moist and dense and buttery and orange-y (is that a word?).  Oh, and they’re topped with orange cream cheese frosting. Do I have your attention now?

This recipe comes from Paula Deen.

The brownies

Ingredients:

• 1½ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 sticks of butter, softened
• 4 eggs
• 2 teaspoons pure orange extract
• 1 teaspoon grated orange zest

Preheat your oven to 350°.  Grease a 13×9 pan and set aside.

In a mixing bowl, stir together flour, sugar, and salt. Add butter, eggs, orange extract, and orange zest and beat with an electric mixer until well blended.

Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes, or until light golden brown and set. Cool.

The orange cream cheese frosting

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces of cream cheese, softened
• 4 tablespoons butter, softened
• 16 oz. confectioners’ sugar
• 2 tablespoons orange zest
• 2 tablespoons orange juice

In a large mixing bowl, whip the butter and cream cheese together until fluffy. Gradually beat in the confectioners’ sugar until it is smooth. Beat in the orange zest and juice. Spread over the brownies.

Then stand back. ‘Cause if you get in the way, you may get knocked over.