Brownie Bake-off: Tricia's American Heritage Brownies
Al Dente reader Tricia submitted a classic brownie recipe from the American Heritage Cookbook and Illustrated History of American Eating & Drinking. This fascinating tome, now out of print, offers classic recipes and even menus as well as a wonderful history of the table.
Their brownie recipe is similar to several of the classic recipes submitted earlier for the Brownie Bake-off, Kate's Famous Brownies and Saucepan Brownies Circa 1959. The major difference lies in the amount of flour used. And because in this recipe the butter was worked in rather than melted, the batter that went into the oven was much lighter in color than other recipes. The final brownies, though were as dark and delicious as any others I've made. Thanks, Tricia!
Tricia's American Heritage Cookbook Brownies
Ingredients:
2 squares (2 ounces) unsweetened chocolate
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs, well beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla (with a little oops!)
1/2 cup sifted all-purpose flour (I don't sift)
Pinch of salt
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (I break nuts into chunks)
Directions:
1. Melt chocolate over hot water.
2. Work butter until soft, then gradually beat in sugar. When mixture is as smooth as possible, beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in flour, salt, melted chocolate, and chopped nuts (or broken nuts).
3. Pour into a greased (with butter) 8-inch square cake pan and bake in a preheated 350 degree F. oven for 25 to 30 minutes (brownies should remain soft). Cut into squares.
Tricia's notes: Instead of chocolate squares, I use powdered, unsweetened chocolate mixed with the appropriate amount of oil per the unsweetened chocolate container, so no need to melt it over hot water. I never sift the flour, but I do add a little extra vanilla to the batter.
Tracy's notes: I am well stocked with baking chocolate at my house, so I used chocolate squares.
Yield: 16 brownies
American Heritage Cookbook and Illustrated History of American Eating & Drinking, American Heritage Publishing Company, 1964
--Tracy Schneider
Tricia on August 26, 2009 at 10:07 PM
Thank you Tracy for posting my favorite Brownie recipe!
The American Heritage Cookbook and Illustrated History of American Eating and Dining is our families favorite cookbook. My Father gave it to my Mother for a 5 year Anniversary present in 1964. The cookbook is more than recipes; history, menus, table setting, etc are listed and is very good reading. After all these years of use, the hardcover book is held together with string and the pages wear the ingredients of different recipes.
The other recipe which I recommend in the cookbook is Mother Ann's Birthday Cake. Very delicious! If you would like, I can share the recipe.
Tricia.
chinch kabel on September 22, 2009 at 02:17 AM
Thank you for this wonderful post baked makes the best brownies, like, ever.I am lucky enough to have tasted the original and I gonna make it for my family....