Homemade Chocolate Brownies
It happened a couple of days ago when brownies came up on a Twitter conversation. And then a day or two later, they came up again. Before you know it, I was having a serious desire for brownies. Ah, the power of suggestion and it happens to me all of the time with brownies. These brownies.This has been our family go-to brownie recipe for well, as long as I can remember, back when recipes were passed about on hand penned paper or photo copies of typed notes. In fact, I lost it a couple of times over the years, and tried loads of other brownie recipes in between, but this is the one I always came back to. In the moving about between Mississippi and Louisiana and back again in my younger years, and upgrading to new computers, I know I had to retrieve it several times from my sister and I'm grateful that she, unlike her wayward sister, managed to hold on to a copy of the recipe!
I've considered trying to make changes to the recipe - such as using chocolate in place of cocoa, or butter in place of the oil - and even trying to replace the fat with a lower fat option, but every time I consider altering something, I end up going right back to the real deal. Frankly I figure, I don't make brownies every day, and well... why mess with what works? While I make them straight up like this most times, I have, however, tried them with that old fashioned boiled peanut butter icing a few times. Peanut butter and chocolate are so perfect together, why not ice some chocolate brownies with peanut butter, right? My word is that a treat or what? Try it sometime!
I must give you fair warning - even with the lack of butter, there ain't a thing even close to resembling low fat here. Go ahead and try it if you like, but I'm not messin' with it myself. Nope, not gonna do it. To me, this is the best brownie I could ever come up with - just the right amount of chocolate, just the right sweetness, just the right kind of tender and moist, and nearly gooey insides, with a so slightly crunchy top crust. Nothing high falutin' here - just the true perfection and deliciousness that belongs in a brownie. Just be sure to do everything in order.
Here's the hardest part. Let them rest before cutting. I've never managed to quite do this without sneaking off a few. What can I say?

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Adapted from a very old Hershey's recipe.Recipe: Homemade Chocolate Brownies
©From the Kitchen of Deep South Dish
Prep time: 10 min |Cook time: 35 min | Yield: About 12 servings
Ingredients
Instructions
- 3/4 cup Hershey's cocoa
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 2/3 cup canola oil, divided
- 1/2 cup boiling water
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1-1/2 cups of all purpose flour
- 1-1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup of walnuts or pecans, chopped
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter or lightly spray a 13 x 9 inch baking pan with non-stick spray and place a sheet of parchment paper across the pan so that there is overhang on both sides of the pan. This is so that you can lift the brownies out of the pan in one piece and make it easier for cutting.
In a medium sized bowl, stir together the cocoa and baking soda. Blend 1/3 cup of the canola oil into the cocoa until well mixed and shiny. Add the boiling water and stir until the mixture thickens.
Add the sugar and stir in the remaining 1/3 cup of oil and the eggs, mixing until smooth. Add the flour, vanilla and salt, blending completely. Add nuts; toss. Pour into the prepared baking pan and bake at 350 degrees F for approximately 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center returns with just a bit of sticky crumb clinging on it. Do not overcook, or your brownies will be dry! Cool in the pan for about 2 hours, then use the parchment to lift from the pan and cut into squares. Store in a covered container.
Cook's Notes: Scatter about 1/3 to 1/2 cup of chocolate chips over the top before placing in the oven. For a thicker brownie, transfer to an 8 or 9-inch square pan and bake approximately 40 to 45 minutes. I sometimes add 1/2 cup peanut butter mixed with a tablespoon of powdered sugar and a little half and half or melted butter to loosen. Dollop on top and use a butter knife to swirl through before baking.
Source: http://www.deepsouthdish.com
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My Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chocolate Peanut Buddy Bars
Chocolate Chocolate Chip Caramel Bars
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Well, I'm glad someone was able to tempt you with something. You tempt me and make me go make different sinful concoctions everytime I visit your lovely blog!
ReplyDeleteThese look wonderful! Love the idea of using real chocolate vs. cocoa
Brownies with nuts may be my favorite sweet and thse look sinful.
ReplyDeleteThese look so good I have to try them! I prefer the boxed mix and these look like a close rival.
ReplyDeleteoh good Lord, those are the only words I can muster at the moment
ReplyDeleteanne
www.anniebakes.net
It doesn't get much better than this!
ReplyDeleteBrownies are seriously my all-time favorite food. I will definitely try your version. I try ALL versions.
ReplyDeleteI already had a hankerin for chocolate, and now it's in overdrive. Yum!
ReplyDeleteYUMMY!!!! These look so moist and delish!!
ReplyDeleteThese aren't the brownies we made in college, lol.
ReplyDeleteThese look great but I'll forgo the pecans, we don't get along.
Don't mess with success, right!? LOL...I love me a good brownie and these look amazing!
ReplyDeleteI have a real weakness for brownies and yours look especially delicious. Now I know where to come when I'm looking for something sinfully delicious. Have a great weekend. Blessings...Mary
ReplyDeleteAww man now I am craving brownies:)
ReplyDeletehttp://postpartumillness.com/?q=node/350
I have never met a brownie that I didn't like but this sounds like it could become a favorite. I've never made brownies with cocoa but always have it on hand. So, I think I'm going to weather the storm we're having right now and put a pan of these in the oven. It should go nicely with hamburgers on the grill.
ReplyDeleteBest,
Bonnie
I made these brownies the other night after seeing the post. My kids devoured the whole pan in just a few hours! These were awesome! Thanks so much for the recipe!!!
ReplyDeleteSounds delish! I’ve struggled to find a homemade brownie recipe that the family likes. I’ll give this one a try soon.
ReplyDeleteYum, yum, yummy!!
ReplyDeleteThese look wonderful- just the way I like brownies, too. I will have to try these since I am still trying to find that perfect and not too- hard brownie recipe.
ReplyDeleteSarah @Homestyle Cooking Around the World
http://homestyleworldcook.blogspot.com
What happens If I don't use baking soda?
ReplyDeleteThis recipe does require the baking soda, sorry!
DeleteJust wanted to let you know... I am making these right now.
ReplyDeleteAnd I am eating one right now LOL!! I hope you enjoy them Kristin!
Deletethat's cruel ;>))
DeleteThey do look yummy.
Delete:)
DeleteI've made these 2 times this week....needless to say they are delicious. I had been looking for the perfect brownie recipe and I found it. Thank you for the early Christmas present. Everyone loves them. I take them out at 27 minutes and they are sooooo light and fluffy. I never thought I'd describe brownies as light and fluffy but they really are.
ReplyDeleteI'm delighted they were enjoyed Alice!! It's our favorite recipe & has been forever. Thank you so much for taking the time to come back by & comment about them & let me know it's become a new favorite for you. That really means a lot to me!!
DeleteI love these! I'll be making them again tomorrow. Thank you for sharing the recipe.
ReplyDeleteI so thrilled you're enjoying them Lauren & thank you so much for coming back by to let me know!!
DeleteOk off to the kitchen to make these brownies.
ReplyDeleteI hope y'all enjoyed them Angela!
DeleteWhat size pan would you use for these?
ReplyDeleteNevermind! I must have skipped that part!! I see it now!
ReplyDeleteNo problem Lindsay!
DeleteCan I use butter instead of Canola oil?
ReplyDeleteHi Teresa! I have never varied this recipe so can't speak to the result or how it would be different - sorry!
DeleteI have never, ever made brownies from scratch, this was my first try and they turned out delicious. I followed the directions to the "T" and was so happy with the result. My whole family loved them and cannot wait for them to become a consistent part of my baking routine at home. Thanks so much.
ReplyDeleteOh I'm so happy that y'all enjoyed them! Thank you so much for taking the time to stop back by and let me know. That really means a lot to me!
DeleteMary, just a quick note that your brownies are still and will be most likely forever a staple in my house hold. Whenever I have to go somewhere everyone requests these brownies. Sometimes I throw some peanut butter frosting on them, sometimes no nuts, but no matter what I do the plate is always empty at the end of the night. Oh and my daughter has a cookbook that I've been writing her favorite recipes in, and though this was not mine originally it has found it's way to her book. Thanks again ... and again and again.
DeleteAw, you're so welcome!
DeleteI made these Monday evening for my hubby to take to work! THEY WERE DELICIOUS!! Instead of using the one cup of walnuts, I used one cup of chocolate chips! IMG so good!!
ReplyDeleteOh how I love this recipe Stephanie & I'm so glad to hear y'all enjoyed it too. The exchange with chocolate chips sounds delicious!!
DeleteMy daughter Anya and I made this for her birthday! Everyone loved them!! She wanted topped with cherry pie filling and it was pretty th good :) your recipes never fail
ReplyDeleteAw Rachel, thanks so much & happy belated birthday to Anya!! If she likes peanut butter, they are pretty good with the old fashioned boiled peanut butter frosting I have here on the blog.
DeleteI'm going to try that next time! Her daddy loved peanut butter and chocolate and thought the brownies were outstanding so I'm going to make them with pb for him. Thank you again!
DeleteYou're welcome!!
DeleteStill making these using your recipe … still loving them and they are still being highly requested anytime I go out, I can't thank you enough for this recipe.
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome!! Now you see why it's also my go-to recipe even after trying others. I'm thrilled to hear you are also enjoying it!
DeleteWow, these were RIDICULOUSLY good! I went ahead and made your boiled peanut butter icing and put that on top of them and geez it was good! I'm pretty sure you've helped me score some serious mom points today(thank you)!! I wish you could've seen the look on my kids face when they figured out there was a brownie underneath that frosting. They looked like I unearthed the Holy Grail or something out of the pan! Well, thank you, we've enjoyed these very much, delicious!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you tried them with the boiled icing too Mellie!!
DeleteThis is a great brownie recipe!!! And this is a Fantastic Site! I come here often and every time I find multiple yummy recipes and multiple kitchen gadgets that a newbie in the kitchen really, really, really needs. Thank You so very much!
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome!! :)
DeleteThese brownies are terrific and worth trying. This is my go to brownie recipe. My children love them and cheer when they know mom is making a batch. This is a simple recipe that is filled with love. The peanut butter icing takes it to a whole other level and I would highly recommend trying it. Thank you for taking out to share this wonderful treat with all of us!!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the lovely comment! I admit to having tried quite a few brownie recipes, but they are always disappointing and I always come right back to this one. Glad to hear that your family is also enjoying them and thanks so much for stopping back by to let me know!
DeleteI was looking for a homemade brownie recipe to bake for my boyfriend, and came across your recipe. The ONLY thing I did different was to add a tablespoon of espresso powder. He told me that he hoped I saved the recipe, as it was "nothing but right!" Thanks for such a great recipe!
ReplyDeleteThanks always a good sign Erika! Glad y'all enjoyed the recipe!!
Delete