Camille's Mom *Finally* Shares Her Best Brownie Recipe (2024)

My mom is a really good cook, but she’s an excellent baker. The woman whips up layer cakes with abandon, turns out batches of flaky croissants, has the best brownie recipe on the planet, and of course, who could forget the almond kringle we all look forward to every Christmas morning? True, her skill comes from decades of practice, but you know what I think thereal secret sauce is? Her passion not only for baking, but for eating the fruits of her labor infuses her creations with a deliciousness that wouldn’t be possible otherwise.

They are truly baked with love. My mom is a sensualist when it comes to delicious pastries and desserts, breathing in the aromas and savoring the tastes of every fresh-from-the-oven treat that comes from her hands.

Almost all of my favorite desserts are ones that my mom has made for us for as long as I can remember. Italian cream cake, buttermilk pie, and these brownies. In all honesty, I think that I took their glorious simplicity for granted until I grew up and tried many other brownie recipes that couldn’t hold a candle to these. I finally realized these were something special.

When I recently asked her for the recipe, mom texted me a faded, oil-splattered photo of an old typed recipe that she’d torn from her old McCall’s cookbook, along with the words, “I’ve made these dozens of times, and keep a little Pyrex pan for when I want to make a half recipe. It’s dangerous to have the whole batch around!”

What is it about these that makes them so good?

For one, the texture is almost soufflé-like — a lacy crisp cocoa top that shatters into blissful shards the moment you bite into it.

The fact that these only have 8 ingredients that are always in my pantry is another plus. And did I mention it’s a one-bowl wonder? Most importantly, there’s something about the simplicity of the bitter unsweetened chocolate that yields the most satisfying, food-gasm-inducing flavor.A few good things to know about the best brownie recipe I’ve ever made (or eaten):

  • These freeze beautifully. Just let cool completely, slice, then pop into a ziploc freezer bag for up to a couple months. When you’re ready to eat, gently warm in the oven or microwave at medium power.
  • Feel free to add nuts. The original recipe calls for chopped toasted walnuts. I leave them out because Adam prefers his brownies “pure,” but feel free to stir in a cup of chopped nuts of choice as the final step if you like.
  • For a thinner brownie, use a 9×9″ baking pan.Just reduce the cook time by 5 minutes or so.
  • Dress them up for a dinner party.Add whipped cream and chocolate shavings, or crumble and layer them in a glass with whipped cream and fresh raspberries.

Scroll on for the recipe, and I’d love to hear in the comments if you give these a try!

Camille's Mom's Best Brownie Recipe Ever

Serves 12 brownies

Camille's Mom *Finally* Shares Her Best Brownie Recipe

By Camille Styles

Prep

20 minutes

Cook

30 minutes

Categories

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs, at room temperature
  • 2 ounces melted unsweetened chocolate, cooled slightly
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/8 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • flaky sea salt, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 325. Line a 8x8" baking pan with parchment paper, then spray with nonstick spray.
  2. In the bowl of a standing mixer, beat butter and sugar at medium high speed for about 3 minutes, until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, then beat in chocolate and vanilla.
  3. Add flour, baking powder and salt, and use a fork to gently combine them. Turn mixer on low speed and beat just until combined. Scrape down sides and turn on mixer on low for just a quick few seconds to totally combine.
  4. Transfer mixture to prepared pan, and spread top evenly. Bake for 30 minutes, or until a knife inserted in center comes out dry (a few crumbs sticking to it is good, you just don't want it to be wet.)
  5. Lift brownies out of pan using parchment paper, sprinkle with flaky salt, and let cool for at least 10 minutes before cutting. It will be tough, but be patient! Eat warm or at room temp.

Comments (24)

  1. Kelly Krause says:

    May 5, 2020 at 8:32 am

    YUM, thanks Mom!!!!

    Reply

  2. Katherine Fluor says:

    May 5, 2020 at 10:38 am

    I can attest to the WOW factor of these brownies … it truly made my whole week when you dropped off a couple on my porch a few weeks ago!! Funny how quarantine really does make you appreciate the little things so much more. Can’t wait to make these for my Mom this weekend for Mother’s Day… thanks for sharing this wonderful oldie but goodie recipe!

    Reply

  3. Anne Campbell says:

    May 5, 2020 at 12:38 pm

    Holy mackerel. Need NOW!

    Reply

  4. Roger says:

    May 6, 2020 at 4:44 am

    2 chocolate squares are 25 grams of chocolate?

    Reply

  5. Amandla says:

    May 6, 2020 at 6:28 am

    Sounds delicious- please can you advise on what the grams would be on 2 Squares of chocolate?

    Reply

    1. Camille Styles says:

      May 6, 2020 at 7:13 am

      Yes, sorry about that Amanda (and Roger below.) I’m updating the recipe to make it more exact — 2 squares = 2 ounces. Which equals about 56 grams.

      Reply

  6. Patti says:

    May 6, 2020 at 6:17 pm

    Are these so delicious that no icing is required?

    Reply

    1. Camille Styles says:

      May 6, 2020 at 8:57 pm

      Ooooh yeah, definitely no icing needed. 🙂 If you really want to go crazy, a scoop of vanilla ice cream would be nice though.

      Reply

  7. Justine says:

    May 6, 2020 at 7:33 pm

    So excited to try these!! Can you use almond flour or do they need to be made with all-purpose? Thanks!

    1. Camille Styles says:

      May 6, 2020 at 8:57 pm

      Hi Justine! I wouldn’t sub with almond flour because it’ll change the texture, but you can totally use a gluten-free all purpose substitution, like Bob’s Red Mill or Trader Joe’s 1 to 1.

      Reply

  8. Hannah Zahner says:

    May 7, 2020 at 10:20 am

    These are GOOD. I made one pan for my husband and to give to some friends, and another with some subs (my exclusively bf little one has some sensitivities), but they worked pretty well! I subbed gf all purpose flour, Mykonos vegan butter & swapped the eggs for flax eggs. They came out just a bit more dense & fudgy than the others, but delicious! I’ve almost eaten the whole pan…

    Reply

    1. Camille Styles says:

      May 8, 2020 at 7:14 am

      Yesss so happy to hear that you were able to make GF and Vegan substitutions to these with success! Thrilled that you loved ’em, thanks HZ.

      Reply

  9. Lani says:

    May 14, 2020 at 9:31 pm

    Oh my. Best brownies ever. Ingredients list is super simple but don’t let that fool you. These will be a mainstay in my household.

    Reply

    1. Camille Styles says:

      May 15, 2020 at 7:54 am

      I’m so happy you loved, Lani!

      Reply

  10. Robin says:

    May 17, 2020 at 8:24 pm

    I made these tonight! They were very good and gobbled up quickly by my teen-aged kids! Thank you so very much for sharing the recipe. xx

    Reply

    1. Camille Styles says:

      May 17, 2020 at 8:48 pm

      I’m so thrilled you loved them!! Thanks Robin!

      Reply

  11. Danielle Jandial says:

    May 18, 2020 at 10:14 pm

    These are the best brownies, bar none, that I have ever tasted. Kids have requested them multiple times in one week. I didn’t have unsweetened chocolate squares just unsweetened cocoa powder so substituted 1T canola oil with 3T cocoa powder per 1 oz. Double the recipe. An 8×8 pan goes quick!

    Reply

    1. Camille Styles says:

      May 19, 2020 at 6:52 am

      What a great sub – thank you for sharing!! And I’m SO thrilled that your family is loving this recipe. I’ll pass on your compliments to my mom. 😉

      Reply

  12. roberta says:

    May 23, 2020 at 12:28 pm

    hello from Italy! i would love to try these but i do not know what quantity is two square of unsweetened chocolate. the weight could help even in ounces. thank you!

    Reply

    1. Camille Styles says:

      May 24, 2020 at 7:30 am

      Hi Roberta! It’s 2 ounces. Hope you love them!

      Reply

  13. Terry says:

    June 7, 2020 at 1:32 pm

    Made them and devoured them!

    Reply

  14. Sarah says:

    July 1, 2020 at 3:35 pm

    I made these and my family LOVED them!! They fulfilled every chocolate craving!

    Reply

    1. Camille Styles says:

      July 1, 2020 at 3:38 pm

      Thank you Sarah, I’m so glad that y’all loved them as much as we do!

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Camille's Mom *Finally* Shares Her Best Brownie Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Where did the brownie recipe come from? ›

How to pimp brownies? ›

Add a teaspoon of instant coffee or espresso powder. Throw in a handful of nuts—pecans, walnuts, macadamia, whatever you have on hand. Scoop in a palmful of dried or frozen fruit. Add an extra splash of the top-shelf vanilla extract, or a dab of vanilla paste, or a dash of vanilla powder, to the batter.

Why are chocolate brownies so good? ›

They have a fudge-like texture while chewy brownies are dense and have an elastic texture that makes them easy to chew. Brownies are always more likeable than cakes and even cookies. On one hand where cakes are softer and fluffier, brownies are crunchier and have denser texture.

What did Katherine Hepburn like to eat? ›

Red meat, big salads, tea, butterscotch pudding, ice cream, meatloaf, homemade cookies… those were some of Katharine Hepburn's most favorite foods.

Why is brownies changing their name? ›

Canada Girl Guides renamed Brownies, new name Embers meant to be more inclusive The new name, Embers, was approved overwhelmingly by members and is meant to be more inclusive. Past and present Girl Guides said the old name caused harm and even prevented or delayed their joining.

What are brownies called now? ›

The Girl Guides of Canada has renamed the "Brownies" branch - who are now called the "Embers" - after the old name was deemed too racially divisive. "Embers are full of potential and when they work together, they can ignite a powerful flame!" the Girl Guides of Canada (GGC) tweeted on Wednesday.

What is the old version of brownies? ›

Did you know that Brownies were originally called 'Rosebuds'? Rosebuds was established in 1914 for girls to join before they became Guides. Just one year later, the name was changed to Brownies. Brownies are the second-youngest members of the Girlguiding family, for girls aged between 7 and 10.

What country is known for brownies? ›

The brownie was developed in the United States at the end of the 19th century and popularized there during the first half of the 20th century.

What does adding an extra egg to brownie mix do? ›

They give brownies a lighter, drier, and more cake-like texture. If you prefer this over the chewy variety, then go ahead and crack in that additional egg. On the other hand, too many eggs will yield brownies that are hard, heavy, and tough.

What can I add to brownies to make them better? ›

For an easy boost to your boxed brownie mix, sprinkle in about a half cup of add-ins to give brownie batter a personal touch. Although nuts, chocolate and peanut butter chips, and mini marshmallows are easy wins here, this method invites creativity, and the options are truly limitless.

Do brownies taste better the next day? ›

If your self-control will allow it, we highly recommend eating your homemade brownies the day after you've baked them. Unlike most baked goods, chocolate brownies actually taste better the next day. It's thought the cooling time allows the flavours to meld together and lock in.

Why are homemade brownies better than store bought? ›

However, store-bought brownies may contain preservatives and other additives that can affect their taste and texture. Homemade brownies, on the other hand, can be customized to suit individual tastes and preferences. They can also be made with fresh ingredients, which can enhance their flavor and texture.

Is it cheaper to buy brownie mix? ›

It was about three times more expensive to make the brownies from scratch than to use a mix, owing mostly to the cost of chocolate and walnuts. I spent about $4.25 on the Pillsbury mix plus added ingredients, versus $13.50 for the homemade batch.

What are brownies in folklore? ›

brownie, in English and Scottish folklore, a small, industrious fairy or hobgoblin believed to inhabit houses and barns. Rarely seen, he was often heard at night, cleaning and doing housework; he also sometimes mischievously disarranged rooms.

What is in brownies on the moon? ›

Description. The most delicious brownies are combined with premium high-quality chocolate cream and vanilla ice cream to give you an experience that is out of this world!

Is a brownie an elf or a fairy? ›

Brownies are not fairies, nor are they pixies. They are not goblins, or dwarfs, or Leprechauns and definitely not elves. The most modern categorization has been they are “household spirits.” Brownies work alone, live alone and adore solitude, whereas the other figments all live in groups.

Did Katherine Hepburn have children? ›

Katherine Hepburn never had children. She was married once briefly, but then only had affairs, the most famous being with Spencer Tracy who was married. She personally felt that she would have been a terrible mother because she was unashamedly “selfish.” She was dedicated to her career.

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