Brownie Bake-off: And the Winner is...
If there's one thing I've learned after trying 13 different brownie recipes over the course of the summer, it's that there's a brownie recipe out there to satisfy every palate. And I know that I've only scratched the surface.
Surprisingly, I learned as much about myself as I did about brownies. Basically, I'm just lazy in the kitchen. I want brownies to be quick and easy. If I need a mixer or food processor, I'm not even interested. And I hate cleaning up.
After a summer of testing, I've decided that brownies should be fudgy and chock full of nuts. They shouldn't be too rich. I want to eat more than one. You may disagree. That's why I have included links to all the brownie bake-off recipes below. They're all winners. You can't go wrong with a single one.
As for me, the most deliciously memorable brownies come from Katharine Hepburn's kitchen. Yes, I'd avoided them for years. I thought their success was just based on hype. But Kate's Famous Brownies get my vote for the fudgiest, nuttiest brownies around. They're simple to make. The recipe isn't complex, and the ingredients aren't expensive. Plus, it's made in a single pan. Other great saucepan brownies I tried: Tricia's American Heritage Brownies, Maggies Fudge Brownies, Ladies Home Journal's 1959 Saucepan Brownies, and the toffee-like Eva Jane's Blonde Brownies. They're perfect picnic brownies.
But that's not where my story ends. Ina Garten's Outrageous Brownies stole my heart with their crazy over-the-top excess. They're fun to make and easily feed a crowd. Try them out at your next party.
A few more insights? I found that most of the brownies I tried tasted even more delicious on the second day. So I learned that brownies are a great make-ahead dessert. I discovered that most of the recipes, even though they may have suggested I use parchment as a liner, cut neat and clean even without once the brownies had cooled completely. (But don't try this with the Amazing Black Bean Brownies. It won't work.)
When my father-in-law saw his first brownie, he thought that the poor cook's cake had fallen. No one is really sure of the brownie's origins, but what a marvelous discovery!
The Amazing Black Bean Brownies
Ina Garten's Outrageous Brownies
Ina Garten's Brownie Tart
Tricia's American Heritage Brownies
Justin Banks' Kahlua-Infused Brownies
The Baked Brownie
Kate's Famous Brownies
The Silver Palate Brownie
Eva Jane's Blonde Brownies
Ruth Reichl's Artpark Brownies
Maggie's Fudge Brownies
Supernatural Brownies
Ladies Home Journal's 1959 Saucepan Brownies
--Tracy Schneider
Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction on September 08, 2009 at 09:58 AM
Wow - so many fantastic brownie recipes. I would love to go make all of these today! Now the tough decisions is which one to make first!
Leslie Kelly on September 08, 2009 at 11:27 AM
Nice job Tracy! I've been enjoying your brownie reports.
I think I'd rather have a brownie than just about any other sweet treat.
sharm el sheikh holidays on October 10, 2009 at 05:59 AM
Hi..
I think I'd rather have a brownie than just about any other sweet treat.