Chocolate brownie

A plate of frosted chocolate brownies

In American cooking, a chocolate brownie, also known as a brownie or a Boston brownie, is a small, rich, chocolate, baked cake-slice, named after its rich brown color. It is sometimes covered with fudge and may contain nuts or chips (chocolate, butterscotch, peanut butter, etc.). The first known mention of a brownie is believed to be in the 1897 Sears and Roebuck catalog. Brownies often have an icing, popular flavors being chocolate icing or a sugar based icing flavored with either vanilla or mint extract.

The brownie was invented by the chef at the Palmer House Hotel in Chicago during the 1892 Columbian Exposition. Bertha Palmer requested a dessert to put in box lunches for ladies that would not get their hands dirty. There are many different recipes for brownies, and simple versions often serve as an introduction to baking. Brownie mix is available at local supermarkets or grocery stores.

Brownies are often served hot with ice cream (it is then commonly referred to as a brownie à la mode) and sometimes whipped cream, especially as desserts in restaurants. The popularity of the all-American brownie has grown, and they can now be found in many bakeries in Europe. Brownies are also sold in some restaurants in Japan as a novelty, usually in themed restaurants.

Blondies are brownies made without cocoa, and with brown sugar; they may contain white chocolate, chips, or nuts. Pot Brownies are brownies containing cannabis.

External links

• Palmer House Brownie recipe With information about its origin
• Brownie recipe With lots of pictures and step-by-step instructions
• Cooking For Engineers: Dark Chocolate Brownies
• Brownies Recipes on Wikibooks Including recipes for cake brownies and fudge brownies
• Recchiuti's Chocolate Brownies on AhitoZiti