Did You Know These Facts About Brownies?
Did you know there are things you never knew about the brownies you devour with delight? Here are truly surprising facts about brownies you probably didn't know.
What is a brownie?
By definition: a small, sticky, cake-like cookie.
There are two legends about how the first brownie was made
The first says it came about as the result of a kitchen mistake. The second claims it originated when a hotel owner in Chicago asked his chefs to create a new dessert.
The first legend: the brownie is actually the product of a "sweet" mistake
The first rumor is that it was a cooking error. It all begins with a housewife who was trying to make cookies at home and forgot to add baking soda to the recipe. According to this theory, the baking soda-free cookies that came out of the oven were greatly loved by those who ate them, and people kept on making them.
The second legend: the pastry chef at the Palmer Hotel improvises
One day, Bertha Palmer — wife of the owner of the Palmer House Hotel — asked the pastry chef to create a dessert for the women who gathered at the hotel for lunch. She wanted something different from a cookie, but just as practical and easy to carry in a bag and pack in a box. The result was the Palmer House brownie.
The first brownie had no chocolate
Today, when we think of a brownie, the first thing that comes to mind is a rich, generously chocolatey, slightly sticky treat. But did you know the first brownie contained no chocolate at all? It was simply a basic mixture of butter, eggs, sugar, and flour — and they didn't call it a brownie, they called it a "blondie." The first blondie recipe was published in 1893 in "Boston Cooking-School Cook Book" by Fannie Farmer. In 1905, the recipe was modified to include chocolate. And from that day on, the brownie became far more popular.
There are generally 2 types of brownies
Cakey and fudgy brownies. Both types contain flour, sugar, butter, and chocolate — but in different ratios. Cakey brownies are heavy on flour. Fudgy brownies are heavy on butter and chocolate.
The cakey variety is fluffy and cake-like
The only ingredient difference between a cakey brownie and a fudgy brownie is that the cakey version contains baking powder. Because of the baking powder, it rises and closely resembles the classic cakes baked in most homes.
The fudgy variety is denser and stickier
The fudgy variety doesn't resemble the cakes we typically make at home. It's sticky inside and intensely chocolatey. While the cakey brownie is rich in flour, the fudgy one is loaded with butter and chocolate. Because it contains no baking powder, it's flatter and soft in the center.
Brownies have also made a statement with their serving styles
The version served with ice cream is called "Brownie à la mode." A warm brownie is served alongside or topped with ice cream. There are also versions served with chocolate sauce drizzled on top or dusted with powdered sugar. Every variation is delicious.
Of course, there's a world record for this too
The largest brownie record: the biggest brownie ever made in the world weighed 2 tons (about 4,400 lbs). It contained 650 kg (1,430 lbs) of sugar, 160 kg (350 lbs) of cocoa, 190 kg (420 lbs) of dark chocolate, 245 kg (540 lbs) of flour, and 8,400 eggs. And it contained a grand total of 8 million calories!
Brownies deserve more than just a passing mention
National Brownie Day falls on December 8th. Just as baklava holds a special place in Turkish culture, the brownie holds that same beloved spot in American culture.
