North Dakota and Amaretto Laced Brownies

Comedian Red Skeleton once quipped that North Dakota is “the only place I’ve been where I didn’t have to look up to see the sky.” I think that pretty much sums up the views of North Dakota.

Guess what? Today is National North Dakota Day. So welcome to North Dakota!

Should you ever go to North Dakota, there are a few things you should know. In Fargo, it is illegal to go dancing with a hat on. Oh, and there is more – it’s also illegal to wear a hat at a party where people are dancing, even if you aren’t. Wonder if Fred Astaire ever visited Fargo.

It’s also illegal to nap with your shoes on in North Dakota. Don’t ask why.

North Dakota is the least-visited state in America, yet it grows the most sunflowers. I would think that would be a beautiful sight.

It’s not just sunflowers. North Dakota farmland would cover over 12 million city blocks. Most of the pastas made in America are made form Durham wheat grown in North Dakota. It’s not just pasta. Farmers there produce enough wheat each year to make 12.6 billion (with a B folks) loaves of bread.

Now you can bet with all that wheat, we’re talking buns, too. Like hamburger buns. And that makes sense, since North Dakota ranchers produce enough beef to make 113 million hamburgers each year. Cows outnumber people 3 to 1. The most popular variety of cow? It’s the beautiful Angus.

In June 1982, Rutland North Dakota has one heck of a hamburger barbecue. Being a friendly bunch, the folks of Rutland invited over 8,000 people to help consume their massive burger. Wow! I wonder, was that Angus Beef?

North Dakota’s Jamestown, nicknamed Buffalo City, is home to the World’s Largest Buffalo. Before you get too excited to see this massive beast, it’s a statue. The statue is 26 feet tall, 46 feet long and weights a whopping 60 tones. His name is Dakota Thunder.

Finally, today is National Amaretto Day as well as National Garlic Day. During the Pandemic of 2020, the good folks of North Dakota seemed to have one thing on their minds – Brownies. Brownie Recipes were their the number one search. Perfect! While I don’t think Garlic Brownies would be very tasty, Amaretto Brownies would be awesome.

In honor of the people of North Dakota and Amaretto Day, I give you this oh so delicious recipe. Enjoy!

Amaretto Laced Brownies
Amaretto Brownies
1-1/2 cups Flour
1/2 teaspoon Salt
4 oz Unsweetened Chocolate
1 cup Shortening
2 cups Sugar
4 Eggs, beaten
2 tablespoons Amaretto Liqueur

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Line a 9-inch by 13-inch baking pan parchment paper. Lightly spray paper with cooking spray, set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together salt and flour. Set aside.

Chop chocolate. Place chocolate and shortening in the top of a double-boiler. Stir constantly while heating until combined. Stir in sugar and remove from heat. Let cool for 5 minutes.

While the chocolate cools, beat eggs in a bowl, set aside. When chocolate is ready, whisk in the beaten eggs, flour mixture, and amaretto. Stir until well-combined. Pour batter into the prepared pan. Bake in the heated oven for 20 minutes.

Remove from oven. Let brownies cool to room temperature before frosting.

Amaretto Frosting
1 oz Unsweetened Chocolate
2 cups Powdered Sugar
4 tablespoons Butter
2 tablespoons Heavy Cream
Pinch Kosher Salt
2 tablespoons Amaretto Liqueur
1/4 cup sliced almonds

Chop chocolate, set aside. Sift powdered sugar, set aside.

In the top of a double-boiler, melt butter and chocolate together, stirring constantly to combine.

Remove from heat. Whisk in heavy cream, followed by powdered sugar, salt, and amaretto. Stir to blend well.

Frost cooled brownies with the frosting. While the frosting is soft, sprinkle with sliced almonds. Let icing set, then cut to serve.