PREPARATIONS

• Prepare your baking dish by lining it with parchment paper or lightly greasing it. Set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 175°C (350°F).

INSTRUCTIONS

• For the shortbread layer: Whip butter and sugar on high until light and fluffy. Then add flour and salt and mix with a spatula to form a dough. Press the dough into your prepared baking dish and distribute evenly. Prick the dough with a fork to keep it flat while baking. Bake for about 12 minutes, until just lightly golden.
• Meanwhile, prepare the brownie batter. In the microwave or a small pot, melt the butter and set aside to cool. In a bowl, whip eggs and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the cooled butter, cocoa powder, and vanilla extract to the egg-sugar mixture. Mix everything into a creamy batter. Then add flour and salt, mixing only until no flour streaks are visible.
• Remove the shortbread base from the oven and spread the brownie batter over it. Bake for an additional 15 minutes.
• While that bakes, prepare the ganache. Finely chop the chocolate and place it in a medium-sized bowl. Then, in a small pot, heat the cream until it starts to steam or simmer lightly. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate and let it sit for a few minutes, then stir slowly until all the chocolate has melted. Place the ganache in the refrigerator.
• Remove the brownies from the oven and let them cool completely.
• Once the shortbread brownies are completely cool, pour all the ganache over them and refrigerate again until the ganache sets, about 4-5 hours. I used milk chocolate in equal parts with cream, so it takes a bit longer than usual. You can speed up the process by doubling the amount of milk chocolate or substituting milk chocolate with dark chocolate.
• Once the ganache is firm, cut the brownies into 9-12 equal pieces and optionally garnish with grated chocolate. Enjoy your piece of happiness.