Description
Classic Lunchroom Ladies Brownies deliver nostalgic chocolate comfort from school cafeterias. Simple ingredients and straightforward preparation promise a delightful dessert you’ll cherish from first sweet bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 cups (360 ml) all-purpose flour
- 0.5 cup (57 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup (2 sticks or 227 g) unsalted butter, melted
- 2 cups (400 g) granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 0.5 tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups (240 g) powdered sugar
- 0.25 cup (57 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 0.25 cup (60 ml) milk
- 0.25 cup (28 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 0.5 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Oven Preparation: Calibrate oven to 350F (175C) and line a 9×13-inch pan with cooking spray or parchment paper for effortless brownie extraction.
- Chocolate Foundation: Melt butter and cocoa powder together, whisking until a glossy, uniform consistency develops, creating a rich chocolate base.
- Wet Ingredient Fusion: Integrate granulated sugar into the chocolate mixture, then gently incorporate eggs one at a time, ensuring smooth blending. Add vanilla extract and mix thoroughly to distribute aromatic flavors evenly.
- Dry Ingredient Integration: Sift flour and salt together, then delicately fold into the wet ingredients using minimal strokes to prevent overmixing and maintain a tender brownie texture.
- Baking Technique: Spread the batter uniformly across the prepared pan, using a spatula to create an even surface. Bake for 25-30 minutes, testing doneness with a toothpick that should emerge with minimal moist crumbs.
- Cooling and Serving: Allow brownies to cool completely in the pan, enabling them to set and develop a decadent, fudgy consistency before cutting into squares for serving.
Notes
- Prevent Overmixing: Gently fold dry ingredients into wet ingredients just until combined to maintain a tender, soft brownie texture without developing tough gluten strands.
- Temperature Control: Let eggs and butter reach room temperature before mixing to ensure smoother batter integration and more consistent baking results.
- Check Doneness Precisely: A slightly moist toothpick indicates perfect fudgy brownies; avoid overbaking to maintain that classic rich, dense chocolate consistency.
- Cooling Technique: Allow brownies to cool completely in the pan before cutting to help them set properly and prevent crumbling, ensuring clean, neat squares with maximum flavor development.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 25
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg