Recipe: California Arbosana Brownies with Dark Chocolate Tangerine Balsamic Ganache

Sigona’s Fresh Press California Arbosana Extra Virgin Olive Oil is our olive oil of the month for January 2012. Recipe complements of Rachel Bradley Gomez of Veronica Foods and Au Jardin Potager. 

Photo complements of Rachel Bradley Gomez.

• 1/2 cup Sigona’s Fresh Press California Arbosana Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup unsweetened high quality cocoa powder
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• ½ cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9×9 inch baking pan.

In a medium bowl, mix together the olive oil, sugar, and vanilla. Beat in eggs. Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt; gradually stir into the egg mixture until well blended. Stir in walnuts, if desired. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the brownie begins to pull away from edges of pan. Let cool on a wire rack before cutting into squares.

Ganache Ingredients:

• 9 ounces best quality bittersweet chocolate, chopped
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 2 TBL Sigona’s Tangerine Balsamic
• 2” long strip of tangerine zest
• a pinch of kosher salt – optional

Directions: Place the chocolate into a medium bowl. Heat the cream, salt, and tangerine zest in a small sauce pan over medium heat. Bring just to a bare simmer, watching very carefully because if it boils for a few seconds, it will boil out of the pot and scorch. When the cream has come to a simmer, remove the zest, pour over the chopped chocolate, and whisk until smooth. Stir in the Tangerine balsamic.

Allow the ganache to cool, looking for a spreadable consistency before frosting the brownies. Start at the center of the brownies and work outward.