Fudge Cashew Brownies

These brownies are just what they advertise to be: glorious fudgy goodness in cake form. And though I'm not big on frosting, this hint of cream cheese sprinkled with cashews is wonderful.

Though now that I get a good look at that picture I'm suspicious that I ran out of cashews and used almonds as a substitute. Whoops. Just forget you noticed--cashews would be better.

1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine
2 eggs
1/3 cup cocoa
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped cashews

for frosting:
2 cups powdered sugar
2-4 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons butter, softened
3 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup cashew halves

Heat oven to 350 degrees, lightly grease an 8-inch square baking pan. In a large mixing bowl, combine the sugar and butter. Beat with mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add eggs, cocoa and vanilla. Beat at medium speed until well blended. Add flour, baking soda and salt. Beat flour, baking soda and salt. Beat at low speed until well blended. Stir in chopped cashews. Spread mixture evenly in prepared pan. Bake fro 23 to 33 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Don not over bake. Cool completely. In medium mixing bowl, combine frosting ingredients (except cashews). Beat at low speed of electric mixer until smooth. Spread frosting evenly over brownies. Sprinkle cashew halves evenly over frosting.

A note: if you want to have perfectly square brownies (maybe you're trying to impress the other moms at the bake sale or something) line the pan with aluminum foil and lightly grease before filling with batter. Then after baking let the brownies completely cool and lift the brownies out of the pan by the aluminum foil. If you really want to get fancy use a pizza cutter and straight edge to make them come out perfect. Though they might be so perfect you could scare some people.

Technorati tags: brownies, baking, cashews, fudge