What is a Brownie?
A Brownie is an American dessert or snack made with chocolate. Its name came from its dark brown color. It tastes like a cross between a cake and a cookie, but it cannot be classified as any of them! Why? Cakes are supposed to be eaten with a fork, and brownies are usually finger food. Therefore, Brownies belong to the “cookie bars” category!
According to different sources specialized on Culinary History, the first recipe of Brownies is considered to be published by Fannie Farmer’s 1896 Boston Cooking-School Cook Book, But, this recipe included directions for “brownies” that are quite different from what we know today; they contained no chocolate. Instead, the ingredients were: butter, powdered sugar, Porto Rico molasses, egg, bread flour and pecan meat. Other sources claim the first, was a recipe published in the 1897 Sears, Roebuck Catalogue.
On the other hand, same sources suggest that it was the wealthy socialite Mrs. Bertha Potter Palmer that “…asked her chef at The Palmer House Hotel in Chicago to create a dessert that could be tucked into a box lunch for ladies to eat while attending the Columbian Exposition in 1893. The result was a super-rich, fudgy-chocolate confection – the Palmer House Brownie. The brownie remains on the hotel’s menu, but the name of the creative chef, alas, is lost in antiquity.” (Hall, Suzanne. “A Batch of Brownies.” The National Culinary Review, May 2007, 42-43). According to the original recipe available on the internet, it was also topped with walnuts and an apricot glaze and they are still served today at what is now The Palmer House Hilton in Chicago.
Beyond its interesting history and all stories and myths around Brownies, there’s something certain about them and that is that they are one of America’s favorites and that is because they are extremely delicious!
Perhaps, there are as many recipes and special twists as there are families… apricot or raspberries filings or glazes, peanut butter or salty caramel, walnuts pieces inside or simply to decor. And here you have one you cannot miss if you are a true Chocolate Lover, as we are!
Ingredients for a marvelous Real Chocolate Brownie
How to Prepare Real Chocolate Brownies?
First of all, you need Real Chocolate. This means High quality chocolate! This is the top secret ingredient and the key for a real chocolate dessert. Take note of this exquisite and easy to make recipe, we admit to adopting it from the Kacau’s collection… Once you try it, you will understand why!!
- Preheat: oven to 350F (175C)
- Melt: Combine the chocolate and butter in a medium size saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring frequently, until melted and smooth. Remove from the heat and let it cool slightly, about 5min.
- Stir: Eggs, sugar, vanilla, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl, until evenly incorporated, then add the chocolate mixture and stir until evenly combined. Add the mix until no white streaks remain.
- Bake: Pour the batter evenly into an 8x8 inch metal pan. Bake for about 25min. Until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove and let the brownies cool for at least 20min
Tricks and Tips
The high quality of chocolate used is exponentially related to the final result you will get.
Let your brownies cool a little bit before cutting them. It will be easier!
Some think that just like wine, Brownies get better with age… so, you may experiment and find the answer yourself!
Serve hot.
Some add ice cream aside… But, in this case, it’s completely unnecessary. You will want to save space for more Real Chocolate Brownies!
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