Bittersweet Brownie Shortbread

1. Prepare Baking Dish

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare your 9-by-13-inch baking dish by greasing it with butter and lining it with parchment paper.

2. Make Shortbread Base

In a large mixing bowl, combine all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, and fine sea salt. Cut in cold unsalted butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press this dough evenly into the bottom of your prepared baking dish, and prick the surface with a fork. Bake for about 30-35 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.

3. Increase Oven Temperature

Once the shortbread is done, raise the oven temperature to 375 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the brownie layer.

4. Prepare Brownie Layer

Melt unsalted butter with unsweetened chocolate. Once smooth, whisk in light brown sugar, granulated sugar, cocoa powder, large eggs, and vanilla extract until homogenous. In a separate bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour and fine sea salt, then combine with the chocolate mixture. Optionally, fold in chopped nuts.

5. Assemble and Bake

Carefully spread the brownie batter over the cooled shortbread base. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt and bake for 23-28 minutes until the brownie layer is set.

6. Cool and Serve

Remove the dish from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack completely before slicing into bars. Serve once cooled.