Description
Classic lunchroom ladies brownies deliver nostalgic chocolate comfort from school cafeterias nationwide. Rich chocolate squares promise sweet memories and delightful indulgence you’ll savor with each delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Chocolate Base Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 12 cup (120 milliliters) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 cups granulated sugar
Wet Ingredients:
- 1 cup (226 grams) butter, melted
- 4 large eggs
- 4 teaspoons vanilla extract
Optional Add-ins:
- 1 cup chopped nuts
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 350F and coat a rectangular baking dish with a light layer of grease to prevent sticking.
- Create a rich chocolate base by thoroughly blending melted butter with cocoa powder until the mixture appears silky and uniform.
- Incorporate granulated sugar, fresh eggs, and fragrant vanilla extract, stirring consistently until the ingredients form a harmonious mixture.
- Gently fold in flour, mixing minimally to maintain a tender texture; optional chopped nuts can be added at this stage for extra crunch.
- Distribute the batter uniformly across the prepared pan, ensuring an even layer that will promote consistent baking.
- Slide the pan into the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, watching for edges that slightly pull away from the pan’s sides.
- While brownies are cooking, craft a luxurious frosting by whipping together softened butter, milk, cocoa powder, powdered sugar, and vanilla until achieving a glossy, spreadable consistency.
- Immediately after removing from the oven, drape the warm frosting across the surface of the hot brownies, allowing it to melt seamlessly into the chocolate base.
- Allow the dessert to cool completely at room temperature, which helps the frosting set and makes cutting into precise squares easier.
Notes
- Cocoa powder quality matters tremendously, so choose a rich, high-fat dark cocoa for deeper chocolate flavor and more intense brownies.
- Avoid overmixing the batter to prevent tough, dense brownies; gently fold ingredients until just combined for a tender, fudgy texture.
- For gluten-free adaptation, swap wheat flour with almond or gluten-free blend, ensuring smooth consistency and maintaining the classic brownie richness.
- Add a pinch of espresso powder to enhance chocolate depth without creating a coffee taste, creating a more complex and sophisticated dessert profile.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 16
- Calories: 230 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 40 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg