Directions for the Fudge brownies
 

• When I make these Fudge brownies I use mini Ice Cream silicone molds, and a popsicle stick, if you don't have that at home, You can still bake these in a jelly roll pan and cut them into squares or heart shape, and dip them into the chocolate and decorate these for Valentine's day.
   
• Preheat your oven 30 minutes before baking to 340°F (170°C) grease and line a  30 x 20 cm (15 x 10 inch) roll pan with parchment paper, if you don't have popsicles silicone molds. You can also use a brownie pan, but the brownie layer will be thicker if you plan to cut shapes out of the fudge brownies.
   
• If using silicone molds, place your silicone popsicle molds onto a baking sheet, Ensure that your silicone is clean and dry. Insert a popsicle stick into each silicone popsicle mold, set aside, for now. The brownie batter gets thick quickly so make sure to have everything ready before you start making the brownie batter.
   
• For the fudge, Brownies  Melt the chocolate and diced butter in a bowl over simmering water until melted, Chocolate should melt slowly-it burns easily, I always remove the bowl just before it is completely melted and then stir it until it is entirely melted and smooth.
   
• In a small bowl combine the all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, instant espresso powder, and a pinch of salt ( omit if using salted butter) and set aside for now.
   
• In a medium/large bowl, lightly beat the sugar, eggs straight from the fridge, and vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract. ( this takes about one minute) 
   
• Pour in the warm chocolate-butter and with a whisk or spatula carefully combine, about 1 minute and not more.
   
• Once incorporated, add the flour/cocoa mixture carefully fold this in with a spatula or whisk, about 1 minute, handling the brownie mixture as little as possible.
   
• Evenly divide the brownies batter between the popsicle molds, (about 1 1/2 tablespoons) I prefer using an ice-cream scoop when I do this, I fill the molds it almost to the top. This recipe makes about 20 mini popsicles.
   
• Bake the fudge brownies in the center of the oven for 15 to 20 minutes if using mini silicon molds, depending on what size silicon molds you have used, mine were done after 15 minutes. Do not overtake. Brownies should be slightly moist inside.
   
• If you baked the fudge brownies in a jelly roll pan, bake the fudge brownies for about 25 to 30 minutes.
   
• Let the brownies cool completely in their mold, then cover and chill the fudge brownies in their molds in the refrigerator or preferably a freezer until firm, about 2 hours or preferably overnight for easy release from the molds. Don't skimp on the freezing times, Trust me, I've tried to "shorten" it many times, it never ends well when you use these silicone molds, it comes out broken!
   
• If you made the fudge brownies in a jelly roll pan, allow the brownies to cool completely, refrigerator or freeze the fudge brownies for two hours, and cut bite-sized squares, using a sharp cold knife for clean cuts, or use heart-shaped cookie cutters.
   
• Allow the brownies to chill for at least 2 hours in the refrigerator or in the freezer, The bites must be cold when you dip them.

Chocolate Coating

• Before you start; I do not recommend tempering the chocolate for this recipe, because tempered chocolate should not be refrigerated and these fudge brownies taste best when they are served straight from the fridge.
   
•  Melt the chocolate callets or chopped chocolate and coconut oil in the microwave, melt in 20-seconds increments in the microwave, stirring after each increment until completely melted and smooth. Or melt the chocolate and butter in a heavy saucepan over low heat or in the top of a large double boiler over hot moderate heat, stir with a small wire to blend. Stir well before using.
   
•  Let the warm chocolate mixture sit for 5 minutes to slightly cool before dipping, for easy dipping I like to pour the melted chocolate in a tall glass, if you are using mini cute out shapes, it is easier to use a spiral candy dipping tool when dipping the brownies into chocolate!
   
• Remove the fudge brownies from the freezer, To remove the frozen brownies from the silicone molds, lift and pull the popsicles out of the molds. 
   
• The fudge brownies popsicles or brownies squares must be cold when you dip them into melted chocolate.
   
• Dip each cold brownie popsicle or brownie bites in the melted chocolate, just before the chocolate set up place a love heart candy onto the dipped brownies, and let the chocolate set up.
   
• Chill in the refrigerator until serving.
   
•  Keep stored in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.