Chocolate Brownie

Chocolate brownies are flat shaped, baked confections that can be described as a cross between a cake and cookie. It was first eaten in the United States of America during the 19^th century and gained popularity across the country as well as in Canada during the first half of the next century.  

The brownie is usually cut in squares from a large slab of chocolate cake which varies in consistency.  They may be too sticky or preferred in the drier form, topped with whipped cream, an assortment of nuts or chocolate chips. The brownies are ideal for lunch packs and are eaten by hand in accompaniment to hot beverages like tea or coffee. It is often served in restaurants with ice creams.

The brownie made with chocolates is considered to be a traditional American snack and was unknown in other parts of the world initially. However, it is available in most tourist destinations of Europe at present.

The consistency of the brownies can be altered by varying the proportion of the ingredients as well as by altering the baking time.

Origin of the Chocolate Brownies

The brownie was created by the Palmer House Hotel in Chicago after the socialist and business woman Bertha Palmer requested the chef to create a special desserts for the ladies which could be packed into individual lunch boxes. The chocolate brownie was first served publicly at the Columbian Exposition of 1893.

The very first brownies were covered with an apricot glaze and topped with walnuts, a recipe that is still followed at the hotel. The term, ‘brownie’ was first coined in 1896 but was used to denote the cakes made of molasses instead of the chocolate brownie that is popular today.

Various recipes of the brownies were published during the first decade of the twentieth century. The initial recipes were for a cake-like dessert but the appearance of the Bangor recipe in 1907 changed the fundamentals. This particular brownie used extra eggs and was similar to the fudge. According to the popular legend, the lady forgot to add baking powder which made the cake flat resulting in a brownie. The dessert was soon included in the list of the top ten snacks of America.

Chocolate Brownie: Ingredient and Preparation Overview

The basic ingredients for making a brownie do not differ too much from that of a cake. Unsweetened cocoa powder and sugar along with eggs and flour were used traditionally along with a handful of nuts which are used for topping the dessert. Vanilla extract is used to flavor the dish as well as to overpower the smell of eggs which are also masked by the cocoa powder to some extent.

The flat baked dish is cut into uneven squares and served as chocolate brownies. Each individual piece is topped separately just before serving. The brownie was baked in the traditional way in the old days but can now be prepared in the microwave as well.

Chocolate Brownies: Serving Suggestions

The brownies can be garnished in a number of ways, often placed in a plate that is decorated with the toppings as well. They common ways to adorn a chocolate brownie are:-

• By drizzling them with raspberry or strawberry syrup.
• By adding chocolate chips on top.
• By topping with pecan halves or chopped walnut pieces.
• Adding peppermint sticks or licorice on top.
• Dusting the top with powdered sugar and cinnamon.
• Adding crushed mint as well as whole mint leaves on top of the brownie.

Chocolate Brownie Recipe Variations

• Blondie- a brownie baked with brown sugar instead of chocolate although they can contain chocolate chips as part of the topping.
• Space Cakes- a common form of brownie in the Netherlands, it is baked with Marijuana.
• Kladdkaka- a brownie like cake consumed in Sweden. It has a soft center and is often served with vanilla ice-cream.
• Nanaimo bar- a chocolate dessert popular in Canada. It is shaped like a bar but not remains in an unbaked form.
• Torte-a Central European chocolate cake baked in multiple layers.

 Healthy Variations of Chocolate Brownies

• Using the dark unsweetened form of chocolate for baking the brownies makes it more healthy.
• Gluten free variations of the brownie are available for people who suffer from wheat allergy or celiac disease.
• Using tofu instead of the traditional butter can help to cut down the fat content of the chocolate brownie.
• Eggless brownies are now available for Vegans and individuals allergic to eggs.

Trivia

Readymade mixes for baking chocolate brownies are commercially available today.