Almond joy brownies

Almond Joy Brownies

Prep Time: 3 hours

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 4 hours

Yield: 16 thick, rich brownies

Ingredients

• 
  

• 1 box brownie mix + required ingredients
• 1/3 c chopped + 16 whole roasted salted almonds
• 1 package cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 c + 1/2 c coconut, separated
• 4 c powdered sugar
• 1 t vanilla extract
• 1 t coconut extract
• 1/2 t salt
• 20 oz. quality dark chocolate (or semi-sweet or milk chocolate)
• 2 c heavy whipping cream

Instructions

1. Prepare brownies according to box instructions, adding optional 1/3 c chopped almonds to the brownie batter before baking. Do not overbake. Let cool completely.
2. Whip cream cheese in mixer until fluffy. Add 1 c coconut, whip. Slowly add in powdered sugar. When combined, add vanilla extract, coconut extract, and salt. Spread over completely-cooled brownies.
3. Place chocolate chips in glass bowl. Heat whipping cream in heavy saucepan over medium heat until steamy, but do not let boil. Pour into glass bowl with chocolate chips. Let sit a couple minutes, then stir to melt chocolate until chocolate is completely melted, smooth, and shiny.
4. Let cool to room temperature. Once it has cooled, pour over cream cheese layer.
5. Heat skillet over medium, add remaining 1/2 c coconut to pan. Stir frequently until coconut is toasted, light brown. Set on plate to cool.
6. Arrange toasted coconut into 16 piles, 4 per row. Top each coconut pile with a single almond.
7. Place brownies in refrigerator to chill completely, or at least 2 hours. When ready to serve, remove from refrigerator.
8. Run a sharp knife under hot water, slice one direction, and wipe off knife between slices.

Notes

If you'd like less of a dense layer of chocolate ganache, you may reduce both the chocolate chips and whipping cream by half, to 10 oz. of chocolate (about 1 bag) and 1 c whipping cream

http://ohsodelicioso.com/almond-joy-brownies/