These brownies are from a recipe in a Betty Crocker cookbook that’s over 60 years old. My grandmother wrote them down on a notecard, along with her modifications. My mom taught me additional variations when she taught me how to make these, and I have made my own tweaks as well. These are great with nuts, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or, my favorite, still warm from the oven.
Ingredients: cocoa powder, flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, eggs, shortening, vanilla extract, and brewed coffee.
Step One: combine cocoa powder, eggs, sugar, and shortening together. (I chose to follow the recipe and add more cocoa than Mom had taught me and I usually do. You can reduce it to ¼ cup and have fudgier brownies.) Mix until well combined.
Step Two: sift flour, salt, and baking powder together. This step isn’t absolutely crucial, but makes for a lighter quality to the brownies.
Step Three: combine dry ingredients with earlier mixture.
Step Four: add vanilla extract and splash of brewed coffee (my addition.) Mix well.
Step Five: Bake at 350 F for 30-35 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, in a well-greased baking dish.
Best Brownies Ever
Recipe:
8” Square Pan
2 squares unsweetened chocolate OR 6 Tbs cocoa and ⅓ c + 1 tsp liquid shortening
⅓ cup shortening (see above for cocoa powder)
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
¾ cup all purpose flour
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
½ cup chopped nuts (optional)
½ tsp vanilla extract (optional)
Splash of brewed coffee (optional)
9” x 13” Rectangle Pan
4 squares unsweetened chocolate OR ¼-½ c cocoa and ⅔ c + 2 Tbs liquid shortening
⅔ cup shortening
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
Splash of brewed coffee (optional)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Farenheit. Combine cocoa powder, eggs, sugar, and shortening together. Mix until well combined. Sift flour, salt, and baking powder together. Combine dry ingredients with earlier mixture. Add vanilla extract and splash of brewed coffee. Mix well. Pour into a well-greased baking dish and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Source: Betty Crocker Cookbook (age unknown, circa 1950) and family tradition