Classic Brownies

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Classic Brownies

Strawberry & Chocolate Brownies. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Juvy S. Iliwiliw

Years after I first learned to make them as a child, I still enjoy making brownies. They can be made in a snap, I always have the ingredients on hand, and best of all, even dessert aficionados still rave about them!

Since I work with so many recipes I usually have to consult my notes when I want to cook something. Not so with brownies - I can recite the list of ingredients from memory anytime!

CLASSIC BROWNIES

You will need:

½ cup butter, melted

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

½ cup flour

1/3 cup cocoa

½ teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

½ cup chopped nuts

Here's how:

Combine the butter and sugar well in a mixing bowl. Beat in the eggs and vanilla until blended. Sift over the bowl the flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt. Pour into a buttered 8-inch baking pan and scatter nuts on top.Bake at 350^oF for 30 minutes or until set. Let cool completely before cutting. Cut into 25 bars (score 5 lines on either side of the pan).

Yield: 25 brownies

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time 30 minutes

Storage time: 1 week, refrigerated or 2 months, frozen

Packaging ideas: Bake the brownies directly in disposable aluminum pans then wrap with cellophane when cool. Or, transfer brownies to boxes. You can also set them in cupcake liners for a nicer presentation.

Brownie Variations:

Mocha Brownies - Add 1 tablespoon instant coffee to brownie batter.

Mocha Kahlua Brownies - Add 1 tbsp. instant coffee and 2 tbsp. Kahlua coffee liqueur in batter.

Orange Brownies - Add the grated rind of one orange to the batter.

Cherry Brownies - Add ½ cup chopped maraschino cherries to batter and omit nuts.

Peppermint Brownies - Add ½ teaspoon peppermint flavoring to batter.

(Note: peppermint flavoring or extract is easier to find in cake decorating supply stores rather than in supermarkets.)

Rocky Road Brownies - Prepare Classic Brownies but omit nuts. When cool, frost with rocky road icing: blend together 1½ cups powdered sugar, ¼ cup cocoa, 3 tablespoons soft butter, 3 tablespoons milk and ½ teaspoon vanilla until smooth and creamy. Sprinkle with ½ cup chopped nuts and ½ cup small white marshmallows (available in cake decorating supply stores).