Paula Deen's Orange Brownies

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter, room temperature
• 4 eggs
• 2 teaspoons pure orange extract
• 1 teaspoon grated orange zest

Orange Cream Cheese Frosting

• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, room temperature
• 4 tablespoons softened butter
• 1 (1 lb) box confectioners' sugar
• 2 tablespoons orange zest
• 2 tablespoons orange juice

Directions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9 x 13-inch pan.

2. 2

   To make the brownies, stir together flour, granulated sugar, and salt in a bowl. Add butter, eggs, orange extract and orange zest. Using a hand-held electric mixer, beat until well blended.

3. 3

   Pour batter into prepared pan and bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until light golden brown and set.

4. 4

   Remove from oven, allow to cool and pierce entire cake with a fork. Spread the Orange Cream Cheese Frosting over completely cooled brownies. Cut into squares.

5. 5

   To make the frosting, whip the butter and cream cheese together in a large mixing bowl, using a hand-held mixed. Gradually beat in the confectioners' sugar until it is all combined and smooth. Beat in the orange zest and juice. Spread over browwnies.