These brownies are simply the best. We have been getting rave reviews on them for years. They are deliciously decadent with rich, gooey chocolate and can be dressed up (or down) to meet any supper club occasion. Now you can find the SECRET behind this ULTIMATE brownie…on the box of Baker’s Unsweetened Chocolate.

Yes it is true that Baker’s One Bowl Brownie recipe has been on the box for over 30 years, but there is one little twist that makes my brownies simply the best. In a previous life I worked for Baker’s chocolate and took part in focus groups where Baker’s management got to talk to consumers that were frequent users of our products. During one of these sessions an elderly lady told us that she loved our recipe, but that she made her brownies thicker by using a smaller pan (9 X 9 inches) versus the recommended 9 X 13 inch pan to get a thicker/more gooey brownie. This grandmother was right and her (now mine) thicker brownies are truly amazing.

CHECK OUT THE RECIPE

One might ask why didn’t Baker’s management change the recipe on the box to make a better brownie. Using a smaller pan also requires that you have to bake the brownies longer (55 minutes versus 35 minutes). Baker’s One Bowl Brownies competes with “box” brownies that are easier to make and we were concerned that changing the recipe and requiring a longer bake time would be a disadvantage. Ok, I lost the argument 30 years ago, but you can try my Ultimate Secret recipe and know I was right.

This story proves my belief that “Nothing influences the flavor of food more than how it is cooked”. Make this little change (smaller pan, longer bake time) and you get an amazingly better brownie.

In those focus groups I did learn a few additional secrets:

1. Line your pan with aluminum foil and spray it with Pam and you get a perfect brownie that doesn’t stick to the pan.
2. Soak the bowl in water and cleanup becomes easy. One consumer in the focus group complained that while she loved the One Bowl Brownie recipe cleanup was a pain. The other women attacked this poor lady telling her to soak the bowl for 10 minutes. This is just another example of: What is easy for some is hard for others.

There is one secret that I have learned, but not from a focus group. If I make brownies and don’t let my wife lick the bowl I will be in the doghouse. Susan doesn’t really like brownies, but there is something about the brownie batter that she loves.

Try my Ultimate Secret Brownie recipe and it will be a hit at your next supper club. You can dress it up with ice cream and Gran Marnier infused fruit and your guests will be beyond happy.

If you enjoy this blog and similar other stories/supper club lessons subscribe to get future blogs at www.impromptufridaynights.com/blog and check out my book Impromptu Friday Nights a Guide to Supper Clubs. Published by Morgan James Publishing and available through most channels that sell books.