Fun Facts About Brownies

At Say It With Brownies we offer handmade chocolate brownies by post, covering the whole of the UK. I spend all of my time either making brownies, photographing brownies, packing up gift boxes of brownies, posting brownies or coming up with new brownie flavour ideas. So I thought it might be nice to research some fun facts about brownies.

  1. Mysterious Origins:
    • No one really knows exactly whereabouts chocolate brownies first came from in the United States, although there are many theories into the history of brownies. There are three popular ones:
      • A chef accidentally added melted chocolate into biscuit dough
      • A cook forgot to add flour to the batter while baking a cake
      • The most widely accepted theory: A housewife got a bit creative and improvised a new recipe when she didn’t have baking powder. She served these “flattened” cakes to her lucky guests and the brownie was born. I definitely think this one sounds the most likely and I’m sure we can all relate to this story.
      • It’s likely that brownies were first invented in the 1880s – nearly 150 years ago!
      • Brownies have been across the World for a long time, they can be found widely in the UK
  2. Classic Recipe:
    • The classic brownie recipe consists of just five ingredients: butter, sugar, chocolate, eggs and flour. I pretty much follow this, though add some cocoa powder too for a more chocolately flavour. No such thing as too much chocolatey flavour!
    • Bakers typically use dark chocolate, I prefer Callebaut 70% Belgian chocolate for the absolute best brownies.
  3. Texture Variations:
    • Ever wonder why some brownie batches turn out differently? I’m always being asked about this.
      • Fudgy Brownies: Minimal flour and no baking powder. Melting the butter yields a denser, fudgier outcome. This is how I do it at Say It With Brownies for the yummy handmade brownies that I send out in the post.
      • Cake-Like Brownies: Less butter, more flour, and a little baking powder. Creaming the softened butter with sugar causes these brownies to rise higher. These are not my favourites as they can be quite dry.
      • Chewy Brownies: Extra eggs and a combination of different chocolates (milk and dark) create a rich, chewy texture. This isn’t something I’ve tried.
      • And don’t forget about “blondies,” which are chocolate-free brownies made with brown sugar instead. Personally I’m all for adding chocolate!
  4. Comfort Food:
    • Brownies are considered a “comfort food”— eating them often provides a nostalgic or sentimental feeling. Perhaps it’s the chocolate or just remembering moments of childhood and home baking. Chocolate always makes you feel better.
  5. Endless Variations:
    • These days, there are countless takes on the brownie recipe. From flourless brownies to butterless versions, low-fat options, vegan brownies, and more, the possibilities are vast. We have eighteen different flavours at Say It With Brownies so plenty of yummy flavours for you to try in our gift boxes of handmade brownies by post.
  6. National Brownie Day: Did you know that December 8th is National Brownie Day in the United States? It’s a day dedicated to celebrating this delicious dessert and enjoying its irresistible taste. The birthday of Say It With Brownies is just one day later on 9th December, what a coincidence! You can read all about that in our ‘About Us‘ section of the website.

So there you have it! Next time you enjoy a brownie, remember its fascinating history and the delightful variations that make it a beloved treat. Enjoy your next brownie! (especially if it’s one of mine)

Anita – 11th April 2024

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