Brownies

You will need:
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2/3 cup unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup boiling water
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/3 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt (omit if using salted butter)
1 cup chocolate chips

Frosting
6 Tablespoons butter (unsalted or salted), softened
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2-2/3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup milk (whole milk is preferred, if using fat-free, mix it with a bit of cream)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350*F and line a 9"x13" baking pan with parchment paper (leave a bit of parchment hanging up from the sides).

2. In the bowl of an electric mixer (or a large bowl of your choice), add cocoa powder and baking soda. Stir in butter, then add boiling water and continue to stir until well combined. Add sugar and blend well. Add eggs and vanillla and blend until fully combined.

3. Add flour and salt and blend until just incorporated. Stir in chocolate chips, then pour into prepared pan.

4. Bake 35-40 minutes, or until brownies begin to pull away from the sides of the pan. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.

5. When the brownies have cooled, prepare frosting by beating the butter in a medium bowl. Add cocoa powder, then powdered sugar and blend. Slowly add milk (while blending), then add vanilla. Spread frosting onto cooled brownies.

6. For easiest cutting, chill the entire pan a brownies in the fridge, then remove brownies from pan by pulling up on parchment paper. Cut using a sharp knife, and wipe off knife between cuts, as needed.