Buttermilk Brownies

Cook's notes: A lovely autumn day was enough of a occasion to motivate me to try a new brownie recipe. These buttermilk brownies are old fashioned goodness, fudgy and decadent. The recipe was easy with straightforward directions. For a  mocha experience substitute coffee for the water. It adds depth to the chocolate flavor.  One of the best parts was having all the ingredients on hand and the second best part the creamy chocolaty frosting. I guarantee you'll be licking the bowl. These brownies are reminiscent of a Texas Sheet Cake recipe. 

Buttermilk Brownies

Recipe from food.com
Ingredients:
Brownies

• 2 sticks of softened butter 
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (regular-type, dry)
• 2 cups sugar 
• 1 cup water or 1 cup coffee
• 2 cups all purpose flour 
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1⁄2 tsp. salt 
• 2 slightly beaten large eggs
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1 1⁄2 tsp. vanilla
• 1 TB. Kahlua

Frosting

• 1⁄4 cup butter 
• 3 TB. unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3 TB. buttermilk 
• 2 1⁄4 cups powdered sugar 
• 1 tsp. vanilla 
• 1 TB. Kahlua
• 1⁄2 cup walnuts or 1⁄2 cup pecans, chopped 

Directions:

Brownies: 

• Grease a  13 x 9 pan. 
• In a saucepan combine butter, cocoa, 2 cups sugar and 1 cup water or coffee.
• Bring to boil; stirring constantly. Remove from heat and set aside.
• In large mixing bowl, blend together flour, soda and salt.
• In small bowl combine buttermilk, eggs, Kahlua and vanilla; whisk lightly with a fork.
• Pour buttermilk mixture into dry ingredients; mix until smooth.
• Add cocoa mixture gradually with mixer on low setting.
• Mix until well blended (flour and buttermilk mixture will be thick and likely need to be scraped from sides of bowl to blend thoroughly).
• Bake at 350 degrees for 24 minutes. Test with toothpick for doneness.
• Cool on a wire rack.

Frosting: 

• In saucepan, mix 1/4 cup butter, 3 TB. cocoa and 3 TB. buttermilk.
• Whisk and stir until boiling (mixture will be slightly curdled); remove from heat.
• Beat in 2-1/4 cups powdered sugar, 1 tsp. vanilla and 1 TB. Kahlua. Add more buttermilk as needed. 
• Pour frosting over brownies and sprinkle with chopped walnuts.