Orangies

What's better than a brownie? A frosted brownie! These aren't brown and have no chocolate in them, so we will call them orangies instead. Or cream cheese frosted orange brownies. But I think I'll stick with orangies.

Here is what you need for the orangie, but it does not include what you also need for the cream cheese frosting. I'll get to that later, so hold your horses. You will need 1 1/2 cups sugar, 2 cups flour, salt, two sticks softened butter, four eggs, 1 teaspoon orange zest, and 2 teaspoons of vanilla. Pretty standard baking stuff, other than the orange.

Whisk together your dry ingredients in a huge bowl (the bigger the better). If you forgot what those are, I will remind you! 2 cups flour, 1 1/2 cups sugar, and 1 teaspoon salt (if you are using unsalted butter).

Now throw in your wet ingredients to create a really unappetizing picture. Sorry folks, that's just how it is. So that's your two sticks of softened butter, 1 teaspoon orange zest, 2 teaspoons of vanilla, and 4 eggs.

Now break out your hand mixer - this is why you need a huge bowl. And mix away until everything is combined.

I just used low speed because I am a wimp.

Here is what it looks like when you're done. And it tastes great as batter! Salmonella be damned! Pour it into a greased 9x13 inch pan. Now because you don't want to put everyone at risk for salmonella, bake it in a 350 degree oven for about 30 minutes, until light brown on top.

Here is what it will look like - including the knife mark in the center where you tested to make sure it was cooked.

Now go to town piercing it with a fork. I think this is so the icing will drip into it, but I'm not sure.

Now it's time for the icing! No rush on making this though because your orangies need to be cooled before you ice them. You will need 1 3/4 cups of powdered sugar, 4 oz softened cream cheese (half a package), 2 tablespoons softened butter, 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice, and 1 tablespoon orange zest. This icing is so delicious, you will not be disappointed!

Now dump your 2 tablespoons softened butter and 4 oz softened cream cheese into a large bowl.

Whip them together with an electric mixer. You will then start to wonder whether this will make enough icing. Don't worry, the powdered sugar will increase the volume a lot.

Now start slowly pouring in your powdered sugar while you beat it. But don't dump the powdered sugar right into the moving mixers or else you will get powdered sugar everywhere. Not that I would do something like that.

Use a spatula to help you get everything combined.

This is what it looks like when it is mixed in thoroughly - like icing!

Now add in your one tablespoon orange juice and one tablespoon orange zest. Zest the orange BEFORE you juice it. This is essential. One small orange yields more than enough juice and about a tablespoon of zest, but you will need a large orange probably so that you have enough zest for the orangie underneath too.

Now beat it together and your icing will be a faint orange color with pretty little orange zest flecks in it.

Dump it out all over your forked-up orangies and use a spatula to spread it evenly.

Here is the finished product. It smells great - faintly of orange and like yummy butter and sugar.

And more importantly, it tastes great too. The frosting really makes it. I think I overcooked the orangies by a couple of minutes because they were a little dried out on the edges, but overall they taste awesome. Anyone have any tips for making the orangie more moist and/or less dense? I would love to use this icing on an orange-flavored cake or cupcake. If only I had a recipe for one!

But here is the recipe for what I do have. It was a hit last night at the dinner party. John had a tiny bite because he doesn't like orange-flavored things, but the rest of us gobbled it up!

Orangies with Cream Cheese Frosting
Orangies:
2 cups flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon salt (optional)
2 sticks softened butter
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon orange zest

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x13 baking pan. Whisk together 2 cups flour and 1 1/2 cups sugar (and 1 teaspoon salt, if desired). Add 2 sticks softened butter, 4 eggs, 2 teaspoons vanilla, and 1 teaspoon orange zest. Blend together using electric hand mixer. Pour into 9x13 pan and bake for about 30 minutes, until lightly golden brown on top. Allow to cool before icing and pierce with a fork.

Orange Cream Cheese Frosting
2 tablespoons butter, softened
4 oz cream cheese, softened (1/2 package)
1 3/4 cups powdered sugar
1 tablespoon orange juice
1 tablespoon orange zest

Add 2 tablespoons softened butter and 4 oz softened cream cheese to a large bowl. Whip together with electric hand mixer. Slowly add 1 3/4 cups powdered sugar while mixing with hand mixer. Once all sugar is added and combined, beat in 1 tablespoon or orange juice and 1 tablespoon orange zest. Pour frosting over cooled orangies, cut into squares, and serve.