Decadent Fudge Brownies

Yum

I have always loved recipes with a good story.  Finding handwritten recipe cards at a flea market always feels like finding a little piece of treasure from the past. Learning that “this was the chicken recipe that made Grandpa propose to Grandma” makes me smile.

Here is a sweet recipe with an even sweeter story.

Years ago, a mom named Barbara DeGroot made it her personal quest to create these incredible, decadent brownies.  She had 10 children and made this recipe for her family every day, trying to get it just right (Boy– wouldn’t taste testing those be a labor of love? hehe).  Over countless test recipes, she gradually tweaked her formula until it was perfect.  One day, after her formula was perfected, she sent brownies in to her husband, Walter’s, workplace as a treat for his coworkers.  Luckily my friend Jill was working there, and she tried one of the brownies that Walter had brought to share. 

It was love at first bite. 

She asked Walter if she could have the recipe, and a few days later, Barbara not only sent the recipe, but also included a bag of premium cocoa powder so that Jill could make these brownies at home.

The author of this recipe, like the recipe itself, is pure sweetness. 🙂

I have usually had a love/hate affair with brownies.  When I taste one that is super fudgy and decadent, I am instantly in love.  If I try to recreate that incredible taste, at home, it always falls flat.  My brownies, historically, have either been raw in the middle (my desperate attempt to get the “fudginess” results in under baking), or crunchy as bricks (overcompensating for the underbaking).

I’m strictly a “brownie mix” kind of gal.  And sometimes I can’t even get that right.

Until now. 

Mrs. DeGroot, wherever you may be, thank you.  Your recipe is absolutely heavenly, and even I, the brownie nemesis, pulled off homemade brownies that were the best I have ever made.  I’m done with mixes.  And I’m done fearing the intimidating homemade brownie.  This is it.  This is perfection.

What are we waiting for?  Let’s do this!

Decadent Fudge Brownie Recipe (Thanks Mrs. DeGroot 🙂

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cup cocoa
1 cup butter or margarine, melted
1/2 cup canola oil
5 eggs
3 cups sugar
1 tbsp. vanilla
1 1/2 cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup add-ins of choice (chocolate chips, pecans, etc), optional

Directions: Mix melted butter, oil, cocoa, and sugar together.  Add vanilla and egg and beat to combine.  Stir in flour/salt.  Stir in flour-coated add-ins, if desired.  Pour into greased 13×9 pan and bake at 350 for roughly 50 minutes– do not overbake.  A toothpick inserted into the center can have a few crumbs on it, but should not have any gooey batter on it. 

Allow to cool completely before cutting.


Now, in pictures!

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