fudge brownies (so easy a monkey could make ’em)
I’ve been making these brownies for a long time. I think they were the first thing I ever learned to bake. They are tasty and easy to make in a jiffy – like, say, if some doofus shows up on your doorstep and you have nothing to serve with tea. You can get these into the oven in about 10 minutes flat.
Several years ago, my cousin Michele was staying with me after her father passed away. Her father was, and remains, one of my most favourite people. Sadness cannot be alleviated in these circumstances, but soft, warm brownies can do a great job at comforting a weary traveller. “I’m going to make you some brownies,” I told her. “Great,” she said, “yummy!”
A few minutes later Michele wandered into the kitchen. She looked quite confused. She looked… disappointed. “What are you doing,” she asked. “I thought you were making brownies.” Now, I’m standing in the kitchen with flour and cocoa in hand and I’m thinking: I am making brownies, dough for brains. But out loud I replied, “um, Michele, I am. See?” And I held up the cocoa. Michele looked around the kitchen and then asked, “but… where’s the box?”
MICHELE THOUGHT BROWNIES WERE ONLY MADE FROM A BOX. That’s right. I’m yelling. Because I couldn’t believe it. She didn’t know you could make them from scratch. No mother freakin’ clue. So now, when I make brownies for 2.0, I almost always think of Michele and her genuine Brownie Shock.
The great thing about this recipe is that it is made in one pot and then poured into the baking pan. Very little mess. Minimal prep time and easy as pie. So easy that even a monkey could make ’em. Provided that monkey had access to an oven. Heck, they’re so easy to make that even Michele could make ’em. (I think.)
. . .
Fudge Brownies
recipe: adapted from a family recipe handed down to me by Rosie Beaucoup, original source unknown
Yields one 8×8 inch square pan.
- 1/2 cup margarine, plus 2 tablespoons margarine set aside
- 6 tablespoons cocoa
- 1 cup white sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional), walnuts, for example, or pecans
- confectioner’s sugar for garnish (or your favourite frosting)
Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease an 8×8 inch square baking pan.
In a saucepan, melt the 1/2 cup margarine over medium low heat. Once melted, add the cocoa and additional margarine (2 tablespoons). Remove from heat. Add the sugar and mix to combine. Stir in the eggs, one at a time. Add the vanilla. Finally, stir in flour and nuts (if using).
Spread evenly in your prepared pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until cake tester inserted into the centre of the pan comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack and then sprinkle with confectioner’s sugar (a mesh sifter does the trick) or frost if desired.
Ohhhh that looks yummy. I will have to make this…it sounds so simple 🙂
When my son was 3 he was at my friend’s house and she was making muffins from a box (she is culinarily challenged) and my boy said “You need salt next”. My friend replied “Maybe the way your mummy does it but not in this house!”
I actually find boxed stuff takes more time that just having the ingredients and they are never as good. This looks like a recipe I will be trying in the near future. Like very near future. Like now.
Now where did I put that monkey…?
This is a sad but true story! The most delicious brownies from a pot on the stove, not a box…unbelievable! Movita, you are the best! I think I’ll try these. I recently came across the idea of putting salt on top of brownies..what do you think? You try it first and let us know!
Michele
ps – That’s sweet what you said about my dad…we miss him.
pss- great blog!
You know, the salt thing makes sense – that whole salty/sweet combo thing. When you come for a visit, we’ll sprinkle some salt on top and give ‘er a try!
[…] describe her style other than equal parts cursing sailor and martha stewart. i’ve made her fudge brownies recipe 3 or 4 times now and that’s saying a lot, i almost never re-make recipes. […]
That’s sort of like children who think all you have to do is write a check and you’ll have all the money you need in the world!
These look YUMMY!
i’m in michelle’s camp, i never gave it much thought if brownies could be made from scratch until i decided that if i was to be taken seriously as a food blogger i needed to break up with all baked boxes. i haven’t looked back since.
i like this recipe cus it appears to be totally dairy free.
That is so weird because a monkey just knocked on my door offering me freshly cooked brownies (it had a sign) and I was all like “No way! Monkeys can’t make brownies! Get off my land!”
I feel such a fool.
P.S. Don’t worry about the monkey, he drove off in a Mercedes. Show off.
ah Movita, this is why I love you. You so easily could have beaten poor Michele to a pulp at the thought of brownies from a box, but no … 🙂
great story, great recipe and fabulous that you are starting to feel better! Get well soon, my friend, the universe cannot continue much longer with you bed ridden xx
They look great! I know they can be made from scratch, but I still have a hard time believing it because I have never had ones from scratch that I really, really liked. I will have to try these.
i am continually surprised/left speechless by how many people think brownies only come from a box. that is, until i remember that a decade ago, i also was one of those people. i can food-snob it up now, sure, but i don’t know if i ever had a true “homemade” brownie until i made them myself a few years back.
(my mother is going to be so mad that i said that; she really did cook quite a lot when we were younger, and actually cook, not from-a-box cook. she made delicious food. just the brownies came from a box.)
now, i always make them from scratch; truth be told, i’ve lost a taste for the boxed variety (they taste strange after having scratch ones, no?), and i would agree brownies are just about the easiest thing you can whip up.
i’ll be testing this recipe. i’m sure it’s delicious, mind you, but i need brownies. STAT. so i’ll just say i need to “test it.”
You and your monkeys! They’re all over the place! (and super smart..)
I LOVE monkeys. (What’s not to love?)
Comments on this post are now closed as it was published in December 2010. Happy baking!