Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Coarsely chop enough of the chocolate to measure 1 cup; set aside. Break remaining chocolate into chunks; place in a small saucepan with butter. Cook over low heat until chocolate and butter are melted and well combined, stirring frequently. Set aside to cool 5 minutes.
In a medium bowl, beat together eggs, sugar and vanilla with a wooden spoon. Slowly beat in chocolate mixture. Add flour and salt; mix just until flour is incorporated. Stir in reserved chocolate and if using, the nuts. Transfer batter to an 8 inches or 9 inches baking pan lined with foil. Bake 28 minutes or until center is just set. (Do not over bake, as brownies will continue to cook during cooling). Transfer to a wire rack; cool completely.
Remove foil with brownies to a carving board. Using a large chef’s knife, cut brownies into squares and dust with sifted powdered sugar.
*Ghirardelli double chocolate chips (a combination of bittersweet and semi sweet) may replace the bittersweet chocolate. Omit the chopping step.
Heat oven to 180 degrees C. Coarsely chop enough of the chocolate to measure 240 ml; set aside. Break remaining chocolate into chunks; place in a small saucepan with butter. Cook over low heat until chocolate and butter are melted and well combined, stirring frequently. Set aside to cool 5 minutes.
In a medium bowl, beat together eggs, sugar and vanilla with a wooden spoon. Slowly beat in chocolate mixture. Add flour and salt; mix just until flour is incorporated. Stir in reserved chocolate and if using, the nuts. Transfer batter to an 20 cm or 23 cm baking pan lined with foil. Bake 28 minutes or until center is just set. (Do not over bake, as brownies will continue to cook during cooling). Transfer to a wire rack; cool completely.
Remove foil with brownies to a carving board. Using a large chef’s knife, cut brownies into squares and dust with sifted powdered sugar.
*Ghirardelli double chocolate chips (a combination of bittersweet and semi sweet) may replace the bittersweet chocolate. Omit the chopping step.