About
There are desserts out there that taste like a warm hug. This is one of them. Chocolate Buttermilk Bars are tangy, rich, chocolatey delights — tender and fudgy, with a luscious chocolate frosting sweetly blanketing each bar. You can even make them red velvet if you want! For a luxury that everyone will enjoy, Chocolate Buttermilk Bars are the way to go!
Ingredients
- For the bars:
- 1 cup butter, cubed, plus more, to taste, for greasing the pan
- 1/4 cup baking cocoa
- 1 cup water
- 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more, to taste, for dusting the pan
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 2 large eggs, room temperature, beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3-4 drops red food coloring, optional
- For the frosting:
- 1/2 cup butter, cubed
- 1/4 cup baking cocoa
- 1/4 cup buttermilk
- 3 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- salt, to taste
- 3/4 cup walnuts, optional, chopped, for topping
Directions
Step 1 -In a saucepan over high heat, add 1 cup of the cubed butter, 1/4 cup of the baking cocoa, and the water and stir to combine.
Step 2 -Bring the cocoa mixture to a boil.
Step 3 -Transfer the cocoa mixture from the heat and allow it to cool.
Step 4 -Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 5 -Using the extra butter, grease a 15x10-inch baking pan, then using the extra flour, dust the greased pan.
Step 6 -In a large bowl, add 2 cups of the remaining flour, the sugar, the baking soda, and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and whisk to combine.
Step 7 -Add the cocoa mixture and 1/2 cup of the buttermilk to the flour mixture and mix well to combine.
Step 8 -Add the eggs and 1 teaspoon of the vanilla to the flour mixture and beat to combine into a batter. Add the red food coloring now if red velvet bars are desired.
Step 9 -Transfer the batter to the prepared baking pan, spreading it out evenly.
Step 10 -Bake until the bars are set, about 20 minutes.
Step 11 -In a saucepan over medium-low heat, add 1/2 cup of the remaining butter, the remaining baking cocoa, and the remaining buttermilk, while stirring to combine.
Step 12 -Transfer the butter mixture from the heat as soon as the butter is melted and the mixture is combined.
Step 13 -Add the confectioners' sugar, the remaining vanilla, and the extra salt to the butter mixture and stir to combine.
Step 14 -Spread the frosting evenly over the warm bars.
Step 15 -Slice and serve topped with the walnuts.
