Ode on a Grecian Urn

History of Brownies

Chocolate, made from native American cocoa beans, was first consumed as a beverage like coffee, soon afterwards sweetened with sugar, which itself was very expensive until the mid-18th century. By 1780 John Hanan had opened the first chocolate factory under the financing of Dr. James Baker (the inventor of "Baker's Chocolate," a product still made by General Mills, Inc.). Cocoa powder didn't come along until 1828, and the first chocolate bar, made by the Cadbury Company of England, didn't come along until 1842. Chocolate cakes, were not popular and it was probably an American baker who baked the first of them, and the brownie, which would be made with unsweetened or dark chocolate, was among the first. Its texture is somewhat chewy rather than cake-like, gives the brownie its appeal, and there are those who prefer it more like fudge than cake, which further sets it apart from traditional cakes. The first known recipe for Brownies was published in the 1897 Sears, Roebuck Catalogue.

The origin of the Brownie is thought to be American. It is classified as a bar cookie and is thought to derive its name from the brown color of the cookie. Folklore has its organ coming from a careless cook that forgot to put baking powder in the chocolate cake batter recipe. The first known published recipe for brownies was in the “Sears, Roebuck Catalog for 1897”.

Nutritional Facts

Deeply Fudgey Brownie

NUTRITION FACTS Serv. Size 1 brownie (113g/4 oz), Amount Per Serving: Calories 480, Fat Cal. 240, Total Fat 28 g (42% DV), Sat. Fat 16 g (81% DV), Cholest. 135 mg (45% DV), Sodium 330 mg (14% DV), Total Carb. 56 g (19% DV), Fiber 4g (16% DV), Sugars 39 g, Protein 7g, Vitamin A (2% DV), Vitamin C (0% DV), Calcium (6% DV), Iron (25% DV).

INGREDIENTS: sugar, butter, eggs, chocolate chips (chocolate liquor, sugar, soya lecithin, vanillin (an artificial flavoring)), wheat flour, cocoa, vanilla, baking powder, salt.

Walnut Fudge Brownie

NUTRITION FACTS Serv. Size 1 brownie (113g/4 oz), Amount Per Serving: Calories 510, Fat Cal. 280, Total Fat 32 g (50% DV), Sat. Fat 15 g (77% DV), Cholest. 125 mg (41% DV), Sodium 300 mg (12% DV), Total Carb. 52 g (17% DV), Fiber 5g (20% DV), Sugars 35 g, Protein 8g, Vitamin A (2% DV), Vitamin C (2% DV), Calcium (6% DV), Iron (25% DV).

INGREDIENTS: sugar, butter, eggs, chocolate chips (chocolate liquor, sugar, soya lecithin, vanillin (an artificial flavoring)), wheat flour, walnuts, cocoa, vanilla, baking powder, salt.

Recipe for Brownies

Brownies (Low-Fat)

Recipe