Brownies

This brownies recipe came from my grandma and my mom has been making them for as long as I can remember.  They are simple to prepare and can be completed within 45 minutes (including baking time).  We’ve always eaten them fresh out of the oven with ice cream, but they also taste great the next day with a glass of milk.  

This recipe can be slightly modified depending on whether you like fudgy or cake-like brownies.  If you like fudgier brownies, use butter, but if you like brownies with more of a cake-like texture, use vegetable shortening. 

Yield: 9 brownies

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. bittersweet or unsweetened chocolate
• ⅓ cups butter or shortening
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• ⅔ cups flour
• ½ tsp. baking powder
• ¼ tsp. salt

Preheat oven to 350°F.  Melt chocolate and butter together in a saucepan over low heat.  Mix in sugar and vanilla.  Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. 

Mix flour, baking powder, and salt together in a small bowl.  Add to the chocolate mixture, and mix until just combined. 

Pour batter into a greased, 8 inch square pan and bake for 16-20 minutes until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.