Photo: Leigh Loftus
I’m a purist when it comes to chocolate and this principle applies especially to brownies. Some people like peanut butter, nuts or marbled cheesecake swirls in their brownies. I like chocolate, straight up, with a side of chocolate.
Being my grandmother’s favorite brownie recipe, the card this recipe was written on has yellowed with age and is so faded you can barely read the loopy cursive handwriting, but it’s still clear: these are brownies with no nuts, no frills.
If you’re worried that they’ll be too boring for your unbiased brownie palate, let me convince you that with two cups of sugar and a half pound of butter (which is also two sticks of butter but when you say ‘half pound,’ it sounds like so much more), there is no lack of flavor or decadence in this recipe.
The brownies are so indulgent that they’re squarely a “once in awhile” recipe. You really can’t make them too often…because then, you’ll eat them too often and no, I don’t know that solely from experience, why do you ask?
Photo: Leigh Loftus
- ½ lb. butter (2 sticks)
- 1 cup flour
- 2 cups sugar
- 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 4 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- Preheat oven to 325F. Melt butter in a double boiler or a small saucepan over low heat. Pour butter into a mixing bowl and then using same pan, melt chocolate on low heat.
- Add sugar to the melted butter and mix well. Add eggs one at a time, beating by hand between each addition. Add vanilla and melted chocolate.
- Sift flour with baking powder and salt. Add flour mixture to chocolate mixture. Stir in nuts (optional).
- Pour batter into a greased 13 x 9 pan (or if you like thick, fudgier brownies, use an 8x8 pan).
- Bake for 35-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
24 Comments
Easy Chevre Stuffed Acorn Squash Recipe
February 20, 2017 at 10:53 pm[…] Now, I’m not saying that stuffed acorn squash will ever take the place of the best brownies. […]
Cocoa Brownies with Browned Butter and Walnuts
February 10, 2017 at 10:15 pm[…] a touch richer than my beloved Cake Nor Candy brownies, they’re fudge-y in the middle and chewy on the outside with a shiny, crackly top that until […]
Bacon Caesar Salad Recipe with Stouffer's Lasagna
October 31, 2016 at 11:52 pm[…] sausage gumbo, jambalaya, loaded nachos with all the bells and whistles and a few batches of cake nor candy brownies have seen the inside of my oven, […]
Chocolate Strawberry Brownies - In Good Taste
February 2, 2016 at 12:56 am[…] grandmother’s recipe for Cake Nor Candy brownies has always been one of my favorites to make from scratch. It’s easy, requires one bowl, no […]
How-To: Prepare Your Home for Holiday Guests - In Good Taste
December 20, 2015 at 9:22 pm[…] The Best Brownies (Cake nor Candy) […]
100 Favorite Desserts from Your Favorite Bloggers - Wine & Glue
September 17, 2014 at 9:17 am[…] These are just super easy, taste delicious, and are pretty hard to mess up.” – Sarah Chocolate Brownies from In Good Taste ”My grandmother’s brownie recipe is an all time fave!” – […]
Summer Picnic Potluck in the Park – In Good Taste
April 22, 2014 at 10:37 am[…] Cake Nor Candy Brownies […]
Pim
February 12, 2014 at 9:41 pmWow chewy, chocolatey brownies as I love.
lia @bakersblog
February 28, 2013 at 2:42 pmOmg I can not wait to make these they look great! I just wondering what the serving amount would be cause I am making some for my daughters school party. And she need 18 so i hope we will have enough but your blog is amazing you so be honored on the foodneetwork like seriously, you and your blog will stay and always be successfully
🙂
Maggie @MaggieCooks
June 27, 2011 at 2:26 pmI just found your blog!
This brownies look dense and decadent!
I’m trying them out hopefully very very soon!
Thank you for sharing 😀
Cocoa Brownies with Browned Butter and Walnuts
February 9, 2011 at 7:27 am[…] are easily some of the best brownies I’ve ever eaten. Yes, a touch richer than my beloved Cake Nor Candy brownies, they’re fudge-y in the middle and chewy on the outside with a shiny, crackly top that until […]
Sandie
December 18, 2008 at 3:00 amYour grandmother’s favorite brownie recipe, huh? Sounds like she and I would get along just fine!
(You’re right on another count too, little Miss Paula Deen (and Ina Garten for that matter!)—half a pound of butter does sound like a lot. But I also know how good butter makes a recipe taste, especially a brownie recipe, so I’ll just forget about those 2 sticks when I take that first bite!)
Lydia (The Perfect Pantry)
December 18, 2008 at 3:00 amThese might be a bit sweet for me, but my husband, Mr. Sweet Tooth, would adore them.
lisa (dandysugar)
December 18, 2008 at 3:00 amWow, these look fabulous and most definitely decadent! And made with ingredients that I currently have in my kitchen….hmmm….I may have to make a batch of brownies very soon!
brandy
December 17, 2008 at 3:00 amOh man! I need these. I need them badly!
E.P.
December 17, 2008 at 3:00 amAll right. I want brownies now, and I don’t really even LIKE brownies.
Your blog is making me gain weight. 😉 There are TOO many tasty things on here!
Rachel
December 17, 2008 at 3:00 amThey’re gorgeous and look so good. I’m bookmarking this recipe. And you’re right–a half pound sounds huge. But 2 sticks…feh 🙂
Larissa
December 17, 2008 at 3:00 amThese look dangerous. Two sticks of butter and two cups of sugar? Yikes!
Mandy
December 17, 2008 at 3:00 amhalf a pound does sound more than 2 sticks of butter! Thanks for sharing your grandma’s recipe, I wish I could have a piece of that brownie. 🙂
Libby
December 17, 2008 at 3:00 amoh i’m so in the mood for brownies now…
Elra
December 17, 2008 at 3:00 amIrresistable!
Moist and fudgy, that’s a good brownie.
Cheers,
Era
Erin=UptownGirl
December 17, 2008 at 3:00 amI love love love brownies. If you’re interested in a lighter version of this treat, you should definitely check out the Fantastic Fudgy Brownies in my blog! OMG, they are amazing! It’s a Cooking Light recipe, and they are sinfully delicous tasting, but not sinful in the ingredients! I hope you have a VERY MERRY Christmas! I love your blog!
kat
December 17, 2008 at 3:00 amI love that these are just a straight forward brownie, they way we like them best
Pearl
December 17, 2008 at 3:00 amwow, those brownies look sinful!