Chocolate Mud Bars from Everyday Baking

Ingredients

• 0.3 cup cake flour 
• 0.3 teaspoon cinnamon 
• 2 large eggs at room temperature
• 1.3 cups graham cracker crumbs 
• 3 tablespoons light-brown sugar packed
• 1 pinch salt 
• 6 ounces bittersweet chocolate coarsely chopped
• 0.8 cup sugar 
• 0.5 cup butter unsalted (1 stick)
• 0.5 teaspoon vanilla extract 
• 1 cup walnuts coarsely chopped

Equipment

• bowl
• frying pan
• oven
• whisk
• double boiler

Directions

1. Combine the graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt in a medium bowl.
2. Mix well with your hands.
3. Combine the butter and chocolate in the top of a double boiler over not-quite-simmering water. When melted, whisk to smooth, then remove the pan from the heat. Scrape the chocolate into a medium bowl and cool to lukewarm. Preheat the oven to 325oF.
4. Whisk the sugar, eggs, and vanilla into the lukewarm chocolate. Stir in the cake flour, mixing until smooth. Stir in the walnuts. Scrape the batter over the crust and smooth with a spoon.
5. Bake on the center oven rack for 35 minutes only – no longer. Cool on a rack. Refrigerate an hour or so before slicing.
6. Serve at room temperature. Makes 16 bars.