Description
Lunchroom ladies brownies showcase homemade chocolate magic from school cafeterias. Classic dessert delivers nostalgic comfort with rich, fudgy texture and simple ingredients that connect generations of sweet memories.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¼ cup milk
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Chocolate Foundation: Whisk melted butter and cocoa powder into a velvety smooth mixture, creating a deep, dark base for the brownies.
- Sugar Integration: Blend granulated sugar thoroughly into the butter mixture, ensuring complete incorporation and balanced sweetness.
- Wet Ingredient Fusion: Fold in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla extract, mixing carefully to develop a rich, complex flavor profile.
- Dry Ingredient Preparation: Sift flour and salt together, eliminating potential lumps and creating a uniform dry ingredient blend.
- Batter Composition: Gently fold dry ingredients into wet mixture using delicate strokes, stopping precisely when just combined to maintain a light texture.
- Pan Preparation: Smoothly transfer batter into a prepared rectangular pan, leveling the surface for uniform baking.
- Baking Process: Bake in a preheated 350F oven for 25-30 minutes, watching for a subtle crust to form while maintaining a fudgy center.
- Frosting Creation: Whip together softened butter, milk, cocoa powder, powdered sugar, and vanilla until achieving a luxurious, spreadable consistency.
- Final Assembly: Remove brownies from oven, allow brief resting, then generously spread frosting across the warm surface, creating a seamless, glossy finish.
- Serving Presentation: Cool completely, then slice into generous squares to reveal the rich, decadent interior.
Notes
- Measure Precisely: Use exact measurements for ingredients, especially cocoa powder and flour, to maintain the perfect texture and richness of the brownies.
- Control Mixing Technique: Fold ingredients gently to prevent overmixing, which can lead to tough, dense brownies instead of the desired fudgy consistency.
- Optimize Baking Time: Watch carefully during the 25-30 minute baking window; slightly underbaking keeps the center moist and fudgy, while overbaking can result in dry brownies.
- Frost While Warm: Apply frosting when brownies are still slightly warm to create a smooth, glossy finish that melds perfectly with the chocolate base.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 34 g
- Sodium: 100 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 53 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg