There are nights, long after the city sleeps, when I sit by my dining room window that overlooks the CN Tower, the city and the lake. It’s a magical view – the lights, the stillness, the slim flow of traffic here, an odd siren there, a muffled laughter from the street below.

I have spent many nights baking in this kitchen, and sometimes sitting by these windows, watching, waiting for my baked goodies to cool, leaving marks of my puffed up breath on the glass for weeks to come until someone takes a swipe of Windex to it. I succumb to bottomless scrolling sometimes, other times I write, or plan shoots; often, I think about life. It’s more dwelling, less thinking, but it is a very peaceful time for me.

When I leave this home my memories will be redolent with the smell of freshly baked goods and night time musings by my dining table window.

Print Recipe
 Midnight Nutella Brownies
These brownies will have you creeping into the kitchen at midnight for one more fix. They're dense, fudgy, dark and chewy to just the right degree. I liberally spread Nutella and sea-salt over mine, but you could just dunk them in cold milk and call it breakfast (or lunch, no one's looking)
Course Dessert
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25-30 minutes
Servings
pieces
Ingredients
Course Dessert
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25-30 minutes
Servings
pieces
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Place the oven rack in the bottom third of the oven. Preheat oven to 325 F. Line the sides and bottom of the two 8 x 8 baking pans with parchment paper or foil. Set aside.
  2. In a double boiler over simmering water, combine the butter, cocoa powders, sugar, and salt. Stir until the butter melts completely, everything is thoroughly combined, and the batter is just barely hot to the touch. Remove from the double boiler and let cool until warm
  3. Add the eggs to the chocolate batter one at a time, mixing well after each addition
  4. Add the vanilla extract and stir to combine
  5. Fold in the flour without over-mixing using gentle strokes with the spatula
  6. Bake for 25-30 minutes until set. Remove from the oven and let cool on a wire rack. The brownies will look a bit underdone, but they will continue to cook as they cool in the pans
  7. Once completely cool, lift the brownies from the pans and cut into pieces. Spread Nutella and sea salt on top, if desired