Today’s Spotlight is on Brownies.

Brownies are an American dessert made with chocolate. They are similar to cake but are denser and heavier because they are not leavened with baking powder. Brownies are named after the color brown and taste like a cross between a cake and a cookie.

A chocolate brownie, or simply a brownie, is a chocolate baked confection. Brownies come in a variety of forms and may be either fudgy or cakey, depending on their density. Brownies often, but not always, have a glossy “skin” on their upper crust.

Brownies are typically made with:

• Chocolate, Eggs, Butter, Sugar, Flour, Salt, Vanilla extract.

Brownies can be fudgy or cakey, depending on their density. There are three types of brownie recipes: Fudgy, Chewy, Cakey.

But brownies don’t have to be chocolate. Blondies are a variation of brownies that are made with brown sugar and vanilla instead of chocolate. Blondies are typically cake-like in texture.

Brownies can also contain other ingredients, such as:

Nuts, Frosting, Chocolate chips, Extracts, Cacao powder, baking powder.

The three types of brownies are fudgy, chewy, and cakey. The types are distinguished by their texture and taste.

• Fudgy: Dense, gooey, and extra-moist.
• Chewy: Slightly crispy edge, moist, and slightly gooey inside.
• Cayky: Light, moist, and airy, with a slightly fluffy, cake-like interior.

Fudgy brownies have a higher fat-to-flour ratio than cakey brownies. Cakey brownies have a higher composition of flour and rely on baking powder for leavening. The amount of sugar and eggs does not change whether you’re going fudgy or cakey.

 

Are Brownies Cookies or Cake?

Brownies are classified as a cookie bar in America. They are considered cookies because they are finger food, while cakes are usually eaten with a fork. Brownies are also cut into small squares.

Brownies are more similar to cookies than cakes. Cakes are soft and fluffy, while brownies are crunchy and dense.

Brownies also have a higher liquid/fat content, so they are formed from a batter. Cookies have a higher flour content, so they are formed from dough.

Brownies are also different from cakes because they contain more chocolate and don’t use leavening agents like baking powder or baking soda.

 

History

Brownies appear to have originated in the late 1880s. The first reference to the word “brownie” in America appears in the Sears Roebuck Catalog published in Chicago in 1898.

Brownies were invented in 1893 at the Palmer House Hotel in Chicago. Bertha Palmer, the wife of the hotel’s owner, asked the pastry chef to create a portable dessert for the World’s Columbian Exposition. The chef, Joseph Sehl, created a chocolate cake-like treat that could be easily boxed and transported.

The name “brownie” originated in the late 19th century to describe a dark brown bar cookie. The name was applied to both chocolate and non-chocolate versions. The usage eventually standardized on chocolate brownies.

The earliest-known published recipes for a modern style chocolate brownie appeared in:

• Home Cookery (1904, Laconia, NH)
• Service Club Cookbook (1904, Chicago, IL)
• The Boston Globe (April 2, 1905)
• Fannie Farmer’s cookbook (1906)

 

Here are some fun facts about brownies:

• One story suggests that the first brownie was created by accident when the baker didn’t have baking powder.
• The name “brownie” comes from the color of the dessert and the mythical pixie-like characters in children’s stories.
• The first brownies were decorated with an apricot glaze and a layer of walnuts.
• The recipe was modified in 1905 to include chocolate, which made brownies even more popular.
• The world’s largest brownie weighed 3,000 pounds.

 

Here is a Brownie Recipe for you to try:

Ingredients:

• 5 tablespoons (71 grams) unsalted butter
• 1 1/4 cups (249 grams) granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs plus 1 egg yolk, cold
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 3/4 cup (75 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup (63 grams) all-purpose flour
• 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup (128 grams) semisweet chocolate chips

 

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 325°F. Line a 8 by 8-inch pan with foil or parchment paper and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
2. In a microwave safe bowl, add the butter and sugar. Microwave for about 1 minute, or until the butter is melted. Whisk in the eggs, egg yolk, and vanilla. Stir in the oil and cocoa powder.
3. With a rubber spatula, stir in the flour, baking soda, cornstarch, and salt until combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.
4. Spread the brownie batter evenly into the prepared pan. Place in the oven and bake for 30 minutes, or until the brownies are set and a cake tester inserted into the center has moist crumbs attached. Do not overcook. Let cool completely before cutting and serving.
5. Enjoy!

 

Consumption

Brownies are a classic American dessert. They are also popular in Canada and the United Kingdom. In the United States, brownies are a common homemade treat. They are also popular in restaurants, ice cream parlors, and coffeehouses. An increasing number of brownies are ready-made and individually wrapped.

According to a Betty Crocker Brownie Survey, Americans eat about 4 billion brownies a year. However, other sources say that Americans eat about 1.5 billion brownies per year. On average, brownies are consumed 2.04 times every year.

Brownies can be addictive because they contain ingredients that trigger reward pathways in the brain:

• Dopamine – When you eat pleasurable foods, your brain releases dopamine, which can create a pleasurable sensation and reinforce the desire for more.
• Enkephalin – Chocolate contains enkephalin, a natural brain chemical that triggers opioid receptors similar to those triggered by heroin and morphine use. This chemical leads the brain to desire more after chocolate is initially consumed, which can lead to addiction.
• Sugar and fat – Chocolate contains ingredients like sugar and fat that also exist in other addictive foods. These ingredients can trigger reward pathways in the brain.

Other reasons why brownies are addictive include:

• They are super delicious.
• They have a rich chocolate flavor.
• They have an ooey-gooey/soft texture.
• They’re not too dry to munch.
• They’re sweet.

 

Celebrating Brownies

There are a couple of days dedicated to celebrating brownies:

• National Brownie Day is celebrated annually on December 8.
• National Have a Brownie Day is celebrated on February 10.

Let us know in the comments which day, including others you decide on, that you celebrate brownies?