Light My Fire Brownie Sundaes

Total Time: 2 hrs Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 16
• 3/4 cup butter
• 4 ounces unsweetened baking chocolate
• 1 3/4 cups sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup pecans, toasted, cooled and coarsely chopped
• 2 (21 ounce) cans cherry pie filling
• 1 cup cranberry juice cocktail
• 4 teaspoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 1/3 cup cherry brandy
• 1 pint vanilla ice cream

Recipe

• 1 heat oven to 325°f you'll need 16 heart-shaped foil baking cups (raynoleds' fun shapes) on a rimmed baking sheet, or a 3in heart shaped cookie cutter and a 13 x 9 in baking pan lined with nonstick foil(let foil extend about 2 in above pan at both ends).
• 2 brownies: microwave butter and chocolate in large bowl on high, stirring every 20 seconds, until melted and smooth. whisk in sugar, then eggs, 1 at a time, then vanilla. with a rubber spatula, stir in flour, cocoa powder and salt just until blended. stir in pecans. divide batter evenly amoun baking cups, or spread into baking pan.
• 3 bake 20 to 22 minutes for foil cups, 24 to 26 minutes for baking pan, or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out with moist crumbs clinging. transfer to a wire rack; cool completely. remove brownies from cups or, holding foil by ends, lift from pan, cut out 12 hearts with cookie cutter and carefully remove foil.
• 4 sauce: drain pie filling in a colander; discard liquid. mix 1 tbsp cranberry juice and the cornstarch in a small bowl. stir remaining juice and the sugar in a 10 in skillet over medium-high heat until it boils and sugar dissolves. using a whisk, stir in cornstarch mixture. cook, stirring, until thickened. add almond extract and cherries; stir 3 minutes or until hot.
• 5 slowly pour brandy over cherries and carefully ignite with a long match. shake pan back and forth until flames die out.
• 6 top each with a small scoop of ice cream, then warm or room temperature sauce.