Name: Brownie Bites
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: Vegetable oil spray; 3 tablespoons (1⅛ ounces/32 grams) bittersweet chocolate chips; 3 tablespoons (½ ounces/14 grams) Dutch-processed cocoa powder; ¼ cup (2 ounces) water; 1 cup (7 ounces/198 grams) sugar; ⅓ cup vegetable oil; 1 large egg; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; ⅔ cup (3⅓ ounces/94 grams) all-purpose flour; ¼ teaspoon table salt

Why This Recipe Works

These bite-size brownies are almost too cute to eat. Wrapped in mini parchment muffin tin liners, they make a great on-the-go treat, bake-sale hit, or birthday party dessert. For chocolaty goodness in every bite, we use both bittersweet chocolate chips and cocoa powder. There’s a whole lot of whisking in this recipe as kids incorporate both liquid and solid ingredients, which is a great opportunity for them to practice this core cooking technique. Before whisking in step 3, remind kids that they should firmly grab the bowl with their nondominant hand and hold the whisk in their dominant hand. Then, use a back-and-forth (not circular!) motion to efficiently mix ingredients. If kids need help, you can offer to hold the bowl steady as they whisk.

Before You Begin

Using parchment mini muffin liners instead of paper or foil liners helps prevent the brownie bites from sticking.

Instructions

Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Line 24-cup mini-muffin tin with parchment mini muffin liners. Generously spray liners in muffin tin with vegetable oil spray. Set aside.

In large heatproof bowl, combine chocolate chips and cocoa.

Heat water in liquid measuring cup in microwave until hot, 1 to 1½ minutes. Use oven mitts to remove measuring cup from microwave. Pour hot water over chocolate chip mixture and whisk until chocolate is melted and smooth.

Whisk in sugar, oil, egg, and vanilla until combined. Whisk in flour and salt until just combined and no dry flour remains.

Scoop 1 tablespoon batter into each muffin cup. Evenly divide any remaining batter among cups.

Place muffin tin in oven and bake until toothpick inserted in center of 1 brownie bite comes out with few moist crumbs attached, 20 to 23 minutes (see photo, “Step-by-Step: How to Test for Doneness with a Toothpick,” below).

Use oven mitts to remove muffin tin from oven and place on cooling rack (ask an adult for help). Let brownie bites cool in muffin tin for at least 30 minutes. Serve.