Chocolate Peat Bars

Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9x13 inch pan.

Melt chocolate with water in a double boiler or microwave until smooth. Set aside to cool slightly. (Here's the move — let that chocolate cool a bit so it doesn't scramble the eggs when you mix it in.)

Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Set aside.

In a separate bowl, cream together sugar, egg yolks, and butter until light and fluffy.

Beat the melted chocolate into the butter mixture until well combined.

Stir in flour, salt, and baking powder until just combined.

Gently fold in the beaten egg whites, keeping as much air as possible. (Look, this is where you get that perfect dense-but-light texture — don't overwork it.)

Pour into prepared pan and bake 25-30 minutes until a toothpick inserted in center comes out with moist crumbs.

Cut into small squares while still warm — these are rich, so think petit four size, not brownie size. (Trust me on the portion size — this is concentrated chocolate bliss.)

Cool completely before storing in an airtight container.