SNOWMAN MELTED RECIPES

Steps:

• For the brownies: Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F. Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking pan and line with parchment paper, pressing the parchment into the corners and up the sides of the pan and leaving an overhang on 2 sides. Butter the parchment and dust lightly with flour.
• Melt the 1 stick butter in a small saucepan or high-sided skillet over medium-low heat. Add the chopped chocolate and cook, stirring constantly, until mostly melted. Remove from the heat and continue stirring until the chocolate is completely melted. Transfer to a large heatproof bowl, let cool for 10 minutes and then whisk in the eggs, water and vanilla.
• In another large bowl, combine the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt; whisk to combine. Transfer the dry ingredients to the melted chocolate then fold with a rubber spatula to combine. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan. Set aside.
• For the topping: Stir together the peanut butter, confectioners' sugar and melted butter in a medium bowl until smooth.
• Spoon dollops of the peanut butter mixture on top of the brownie batter. Holding a butter knife vertically, swirl up and down and horizontally and vertically until the batter and topping are nicely swirled together. Sprinkle the chopped pretzels over the top.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with just a few crumbs, about 35 minutes.
• Let the brownies cool in the pan on a wire rack for 30 minutes. Using the parchment "handles," lift the brownies out of the baking dish and transfer to a cutting board to cool completely before slicing into 12 bars.

Steps:

• In a small saucepan heat the butter, milk and salt until the butter is melted. Allow the mixture to cool until it is lukewarm.
• In a large bowl, stir together the flours, yeast, cardamom and sugar until combined. Make a well in the centre and crack in the eggs. Pour in the lukewarm milk mixture and stir everything together to form a sticky dough. You may have to use your hands as the dough becomes stiffer.
• Oil the work surface with a teaspoon of olive oil. Turn the dough out onto the oiled surface and knead vigorously for 5-8 minutes, using a plastic scraper as needed to prise the dough from the work surface. Don’t be tempted to add flour, as this will make the buns dry and tough. Keep kneading until the dough is considerably less sticky, smoother and more elastic. Shape into a ball, and put into a large, greased bowl. Cover the bowl with a clean tea towel and set aside in a warm place to prove for an hour, or until doubled in size.
• Meanwhile, for the filling and topping, mix the softened butter in a bowl with half the sugar and 1 tablespoon of cinnamon. Use a fork to mix the sugar and spice into the butter until it is completely combined. Mix the remaining sugar and cinnamon in a separate bowl and set aside.
• When the dough has risen, turn out onto a floured work surface and gently roll out into a 36x24cm rectangle. Spread the cinnamon-sugar-butter evenly over the dough with a table or palette knife.
• With the longest edge closest to you, roll the dough up into a cylinder. Cut into 12 even slices.
• Place each slice onto a flattened out paper cupcake case on a baking tray, or into a greased muffin tin. (Baking in a muffin tin will make your cinnamon buns taller and domed.) Cover with a clean tea towel and set aside to prove again for 30-45 minutes, or until risen.
• Pre-heat the oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6.
• Brush the tops of the buns with beaten egg and dust liberally with cinnamon sugar. Bake for 12 minutes until the buns are dark golden-brown. Enjoy warm with a cup of coffee.