Homemade Brownie Recipe

I have a confession. I feel pretty bad about it, honestly. I am not sure how I overlooked it for so many years…

My four-year-old has never had a brownie before. 

I know that some moms would probably be proud of that.  Sugar is bad.  I know that.  But isn’t one of the greatest joys of childhood indulging in an occasional sweet?

I think it is.

My daughter isn’t really deprived.  She has had her fair share of homemade cupcakes and cookies, but the truth is, I am just not a frequent baker.  I am much more a cook, and since she has severe food allergies, we rarely, if ever, eat baked goods that don’t come out of my kitchen.

This afternoon, since I am on maternity leave, and have some time on my hands, I asked her if she wanted to make brownies.  She asked me, “what are brownies?”.  I responded with “it’s kind of like a chocolate cookie.  Or a chocolate cake. Maybe somewhere in the middle of those two… but you’re going to like it!”.

I then enlisted her help to whip up a homemade brownie recipe, and 25 minutes later, I was rewarded with the following comment: “Mommy, this is the best cake, ever!”.

Mission accomplished.  I can sleep better tonight.

Homemade Brownie Recipe

3.8 from 5 votes

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Homemade Brownie Recipe

Author Andrea Vaughan

Ingredients

• 1 cup organic sugar cane or granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup  melted butter
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup unbleached flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 3 tbsp softened butter
• 3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease an 8x8 pan with olive oil or butter.
2. Combine sugar cane, 1/2 cup melted butter, eggs and 1 tsp vanilla extract in a large bowl.  Mix well, by hand.  In a medium bowl, combine 1/3 cup cocoa powder, 1/2 cup flour, salt and baking powder, and stir well.  Gradually add in dry ingredients to wet ingredients, 1/2 cup at a time, mixing well by hand after each addition.
3. Pour batter into greased pan, and bake in preheated oven for 25 - 30 minutes.
4. A few minutes before brownies are done, combine powdered sugar, 3 tbsp softened butter, 3 tbsp cocoa powder and 1 tsp vanilla extract.  Beat with an electric mixer until fully incorporated.
5. Once brownies are cooked through, and an inserted toothpick comes out clean, spread icing mixture onto brownies, while still hot.
6. Then grab a fork, and dig right in! (Contents may be hot).

Watch How It’s Made

Are you a visual learner?  Here is a step-by-step video that shows you how to make these tasty treats!

Psst — these make GREAT gifts!  You can even ship  them!  Learn how to package brownies.

Do you have a favorite homemade brownie recipe?  Do your kids think brownies taste more like cookies or cake?