Chewy and melty, these French-style, double chocolate brownies, are called Chocolate Bouchons because of their cork-like shape. Bouchon means “cork” in French!  
chocolate bouchons or aka...brownie "cupcake" | www.feastingathome.com

Introducing the cutest little brownies ever! Up your brownie game and make this scrumptious recipe for Chocolate Bouchons- a french-style brownie that is crispy on the outside, soft in the middle, with double the dark chocolate, with just a hint of sweetness. A grown-up brownie. 😉

I received a nice surprise in the mail today. A gift. Truthfully, a gift from myself. For several weeks I had been patiently awaiting the arrival of Thomas Keller’s new cookbook, Bouchon Bakery, so patiently in fact, I forgot I had ordered it. So when it arrived, it truly was a surprise. I highly recommend this… surprising your future yourself…it feels magnificent!

What also feels magnificent, are these little chocolate gems, chewy and melty in your mouth. They remind me of a brownie, but so much much cuter. They are named for their shape, which resembles a cork, which translates to “bouchon” in French. Not gluten-free, not vegan, these are the real deal, full-flavored, rich and yet not overly sweet.

A decadent treat, perfect for holiday gatherings or celebrations.

 

The cookbook, like all of Keller’s previous ones, is a dream, beautifully and richly crafted. It’s a place to get lost. And also a place to learn. This recipe was surprisingly easy. My next attempt will be his chocolate croissants, a little more involved and challenging. I’ll let you know how it turns out.

To become better at cooking and baking it’s important to challenge yourself and to keep practicing. Recipes often require repetition to get them right. There are so many different variables. I have felt the frustration of following a recipe to the letter, and have it fail. It’s agonizing.

Sometimes, it’s just a bad recipe or a small typo, but most often, it’s a slight variation in temperature, measurement, or technique.  It is important to read a recipe all the way through, several times, before embarking. This way you will be prepared for the time commitment involved and the tools you may need.

Often baking requires rising time or resting time and rushing these can result in poor results. Chances are if you really want to perfect something, you will have to practice it many times, and within a time frame that allows you to remember what you did before, so you know what to do differently the next time.

This is how we learn. Through Practice.

I have been thinking about the word practice. The dictionary defines it this way: to perform or work repeatedly so as to become proficient.  Malcolm Gladwell, in his book, The Outliers, writes about practice and the number of hours it takes to become an expert at anything. Ten thousand hours. That’s the equivalent of 3 hours a day for 10 years.
That is a lot of practice.  To commit that much time to do anything must start from love. We must love what we are doing, or else, let’s face it, we won’t last 10 days, let alone ten years.

How to make Chocolate Bouchons

This recipe calls for a bouchon mold.

A bouchon mold is taller and skinnier than a mini cupcake pan…literally shaped like a cork, but I am sure a mini cupcake pan would work fine too!

Step One: Place the flour, sifted cocoa powder, and salt in a bowl and whisk.

The interesting thing about this recipe is that it calls for more cocoa powder than flour. He recommends using high-quality cocoa. Make sure to sift the cocoa powder to get the clumps out.

Step two: Combine the eggs, sugar, vanilla in a stand mixer and whisk on med-low speed, scraping down sides and bottom of the bowl. With the mixer running, alternating between the two, add the butter and flour in 3 additions. Then mix to combine well, scraping the bowl as necessary.

Step three: Remove the bowl, fold in chocolate chips. Let sit in a cool spot ( not the refrigerator) for 2 hours. The batter can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to two days, but make sure to let sit at room temp for two hours before filling the molds.

Preheat oven to 350F

Step four: Using a pastry bag or spoon, fill the bouchon mold, stopping just below the rim.

Step five: Bake for 12 minutes in a convection oven, or 16 minutes ins a standard oven. Remove mold from the oven and let stand 10 minutes(so that they will hold their shape), then unmold the bouchons on a cooling rack, turn right side up and let cool completely.

Rich,decadent but not overly sweet, Chocolate Bouchons, or a French Style Brownie, shaped like a cork. Perfect for holiday gatherings or celebrations.
Step six: Dust the tops with powdered sugar.
Rich,decadent but not overly sweet, Chocolate Bouchons, or a French Style Brownie, shaped like a cork. Perfect for holiday gatherings or celebrations.
Revel in your little creation!
Enjoy the bouchons, let me know what you think in the comments below.
Happy Baking!
xoxo
You may also enjoy this recipe for Apple Brown Butter Bouchons!
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How to make Chocolate Bouchons-a cork-shaped French style brownie.

Chocolate Bouchons

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 4 reviews
  • Author: Sylvia Fountaine | feasting at home
  • Prep Time: 160 mins
  • Cook Time: 15 mins
  • Total Time: 2 hours 55 minutes
  • Yield: 12 1x
  • Category: desserts, baked, brownies
  • Method: baked
  • Cuisine: french

Description

Chewy and melty, these double chocolate brownies, called “Bouchons” are named because of their cork like shape. Bouchon means Cork in French. Recipe by Thomas keller

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 5 oz butter- room temp (141 grams)
  • 1/4 cup plus 1 1/2 tablespoons flour (50 grams)
  • 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons cocoa powder ( 50 grams)
  • 1/4 cup plus 2 tsp ( 1 1/2 large eggs) eggs ( 75 grams)
  • 1/8 tsp kosher salt ( .4 grams)
  • 3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar (162 grams)
  • 1/4 tsp vanilla paste (1.5 grams) or sub 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips (112 grams)
  • powered sugar for dusting

Instructions

  1. Place the flour, sifted cocoa powder, and salt in a bowl and whisk.
    Combine the eggs, sugar, vanilla in a stand mixer and whisk on med-low speed, scraping down sides and bottom of the bowl. With the mixer running, alternating between the two, add the butter and flour in 3 additions. Then mix to combine well, scraping the bowl as necessary.
  2. Remove the bowl, fold in chocolate chips. Let sit in a cool spot ( not the refrigerator) for 2 hours. The batter can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to two days, but make sure to let sit at room temp for two hours before filling the molds.
  3. Preheat oven to 350F
  4. Using a pastry bag or spoon, fill the bouchon mold, stopping just below the rim.
  5. Bake for 12 minutes in a convection oven, or 16 minutes ins a standard oven. Remove mold from the oven and let stand 10 minutes(so that they will hold their shape), then unmold the bouchons on a cooling rack, turn right side up and let cool completely.
  6. Dust the tops with powdered sugar.

Notes

Tips: He recommends using the convection setting on your oven, valrhona cocoa powder, a Pastry bag and a bouchon mold.


Nutrition

  • Calories: 289

 

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Comments

  1. Hi, always wanted to know how bouchon tastes like so I made it today. Came out perfect using your guidance above. Just to be sure, does it taste a bit too salty? I measured 4g as in recipe.






  2. Sylvia, You mention receiving the Bouchon Bakery cookbook and making Thomas Keller’s chocolate bouchon. So, I thought your recipe would be the same as his, but when I compared the two (the version on the website Delish), there were several differences. He calls for 3 large eggs, your recipe has 1 1/2. He uses 3/4 cup flour, you use 1/4 cup + 1 1/2 T. Did Delish change his recipe or did you tweek it? Why?

  3. the first time I made them they didn’t set properly, even though I used a scale to measure everything. I’m going to try again today. I did use mini chips (barista chocolate chips) and they are super small, so maybe that was the issue. what chips have you used? I got this recipe from our dear friend and they are amazing, so hopefully I’ll get the consistency right. practice makes perfect.






    1. Shoot- perhaps they didn’t bake long enough, or the oven wasn’t fully preheated? I used mini chips too. 😉

  4. I am excited to make these for Valentine’s Day for my family. How long do you think they will last after making them and can they be frozen or refrigerated after baking?

    Thank you!

    1. Hi Holly! Treat them like you would brownies. I bet they would freeze just fine. I’d just keep out on the counter, but up to you!

    1. You know Paula, I bet they would turn out cute! My only hesitation is… would they stick? Also because I think the cannele mold is wider, you may need to cook a bit longer?

  5. I tried this recipe, it turned out perfectly ! Loved it so much I’m making it again. I added a bit of rum on the Bouchons, to cut the sweet – superb !

  6. The Bouchon pan that you used for this recipe is different then the one you show for purchasing on Amazon. I am interested in the pan that you show for this recipe, with the red bottoms. Do you know where I can purchase yours?

  7. This is fantastic. I have an allergy-friendly blog due to our family allergies. Do you mind if I update this recipe for that site and post a link back to your original recipe? Thanks!

  8. It’s the first time I hear about “Bouchons” and they sure look adorable! Googling show me a lot of chocolate bouchons. Are there more different once in the cookbook?

  9. This is such a good recipe – the first thing I made out of Bouchon! 🙂 I did do it in mini cupcake tins, and they turned out perfectly! 🙂

  10. Just added this to my “to bake” list. They look delicious and your photos are beautiful! Loved your thoughts on this cookbook. I just added it to my Wishlist yesterday (hoping it will be under the tree this Christmas 🙂 I’m baking my way through the new Dahlia Bakery Cookbook. So far, very impressed. I’d recommend when you’re looking for your next cookbook.

    1. Thanks for the tip. I have always loved going to Dahlia Bakery and now I look forward to reading the cookbook!

  11. I saw one of your pictures on Foodgawker and just had to tell you that these pictures are absolutely beautiful. You’ve definitely got a new fan here. The best wishes from Copenhagen, Denmark.

  12. I made Keller’s brownies and reviewed them on my blog. They were amazing, like nothing I’ve ever had before! I can’t wait to try bouchons – I know they are as good. And now I know that this book needs to be on my wish list 🙂

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