Ultimate Chocolate Brownies

3/4 cup cocoa
1/2 tsp baking soda
2/3 cup butter or margarine, melted and divided
1/2 cup boiling water
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 1/3 cups flour
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
One-Bowl Buttercream Frosting (to follow)

Heat oven to 350 degree’s F. Grease 13x9x2 inch baking pan or two 8-inch square baking pans.

Stir together cocoa and baking soda in large bowl; stir in 1/3 cup butter. Add boiling water; stir until mixture thickens. Stir until smooth. Add flour, vanilla and salt; blend completely. Stir in chocolate chips. Pour into prepared pan(s).

Bake 35 to 40 minutes for rectangular pan, 30 to 35 minutes for square pan or until brownies begin to pull away from sides of pans. Cool completely in pans on wire rack. Meanwhile, prepare One-Bowl Buttercream Frosting; frost brownies. Sprinkle with additional chocolate chips, if desired. Cut into squares.

One-Bowl Buttercream Frosting

6 TBS butter or margarine, softened
2 2/3 cups cocoa
4 to 6 TBS milk
1 tsp vanilla extract

Beat butter in medium bowl. Add powdered sugar and cocoa alternately with milk, beating to spreading consistency. Stir in vanilla.