Chocolate: Watch the replay of our livestream and Q&A with Amy Guittard and Emily Luchetti

Amy Guittard

Amy is the fifth generation of the Guittard family and heads up its marketing and brand direction. As the oldest continuously family-owned and operated chocolate company in the United States, Guittard Chocolate Company, continues to grow with the same innovative spirit and commitment to sustainability that has made it one of the world’s most respected makers and suppliers of premium chocolate over the past 150+ years.

Follow @guittardchocolate on Instagram.

Emily Luchetti

Emily helped define what great pastry means in America. After attending culinary school and working at Jeremiah Tower’s legendary Stars in San Francisco, Emily switched to the sweet side of the kitchen at Stars and never looked back. Emily has since authored many books on the subject of pastry, won countless awards, started a movement and joined the board of a number of high-profile, food-focussed, female-empowering organisations.

Follow @emilyluchetti on Instagram.

Ingredients

• 12 ounces (340g) unsweetened chocolate, roughly chopped or discs

• 6 ounces (170g) unsalted butter

• 6 large eggs

• 10.5 ounces (300 g) granulated sugar

• 8.25 (235 g) ounces light brown sugar

• 4.75 ounces (135 g) all-purpose flour

• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Equipment

• One 11 by 11 inch pan

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease the bottom and sides of the 11 by 11 baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.

2. Melt the chocolate and butter in a double boiler. Whisk until smooth. Let cool to room temperature.

3. Whisk together the eggs, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until combined

4. Whisk in the melted chocolate.

5. Stir in the flour, vanilla, and salt until smooth and evenly combined.

6. Pour into the prepared pan and smooth the surface.

7. Bake the brownies for 20 minutes* and check for doneness by inserting a bamboo skewer12in the middle. When it comes out a little fudgy, not quite clean, the brownies are done. If they’re a little too wet, bake 5 minutes longer and check again.

8. Let the brownies cool in the pan, then cut into squares.

*Time may vary depending on oven.

This recipe can easily be doubled to make 2 pans at a time.

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup cocoa powder

• 3/4 cup water

• 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped or broken into 1-inch pieces

• 2 cups all-purpose unbleached flour

• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

• 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

• 2 cups granulated sugar

• 5 large eggs

• 1 cup whole milk

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease the bottoms and sides of the cake pans with cooking spray or butter and coat evenly with cocoa powder, tapping out the excess.

2. In a small bowl, stir the 3/4 cup cocoa powder with the water to make a paste and set aside.

3. Melt the chocolate by putting it in a heat-proof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water, making sure the bowl does not touch the water. (You can use a double boiler if you have one.) Stir and scrape the side of the bowl occasionally with the rubber spatula until the chocolate is smooth and evenly melted. Cool to room temperature.

4. Over a bowl or piece of parchment, sift the flour and baking soda together in a sifter or in a fine strainer by gently tapping your hand against the edge. Add the salt. Set aside.

5. Using the stand mixer, or a handheld mixer and medium bowl, on medium speed, beat the butter and sugar together until smooth. Scrape down the side of the bowl with the spatula and mix in the eggs, 1 at a time, until combined. On low speed, add the cocoa paste. Add the melted chocolate and mix until thoroughly combined.

6. On low speed, add half of the sifted flour, mixing thoroughly, then half the milk. Repeat with the remaining flour and then the milk, mixing well.

7. Divide the batter between the pans and, using the spatula, spread it out. Bake the cakes on the middle rack of the oven until a bamboo skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean, about 20 minutes. If you put the cake pans on 2 different racks in the oven, switch the pans halfway through baking so they’ll bake evenly.

8. Cool the cakes in their pans. Run a small knife around the inside edges. Place a plate on top of each cake and invert the cake and plate. Remove the pans. Cool the cakes completely.

Ingredients

10 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped (no bigger than 1/2-inch pieces)

1 cup heavy cream

2/3 cup granulated sugar

12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened and cut into 1-inch pieces

Method

1. Put the chopped chocolate in a medium bowl. Heat the cream with the sugar in a small saucepan over medium-high heat until small bubbles form at the edge, stirring to dissolve the sugar.

2. Pour the warm cream over the chopped chocolate. Shake the bowl a little to submerge all the chocolate pieces. Then cover the bowl for several minutes. (You can cover the bowl with anything that’s handy, like a pan lid.) Whisk until smooth. Let sit for 5 minutes to cool slightly.

3. Whisk the butter into the chocolate, adding only 1 or 2 pieces at a time and whisking until they’re blended before adding the next. Once all the butter is added, give the mixture a final whisk to smooth it out. Let sit at room temperature until it seems spreadable. This step may take up to an hour, but you can prepare the frosting up to 6 hours ahead of time. If you try to rush it by putting it in the refrigerator, stir every 10 minutes and keep a close eye on it so it doesn’t get hard.