Texas Brownies

A large-batch frosted chocolate brownie recipe, 48 brownies from a single pan, printed with both an oven method and a microwave method — from the "Grandma's Cookies" sub-series of the Great American Recipes card collection (Card 81, Group 16).

Ingredients

Brownies: 2 cups all-purpose flour · 2 cups granulated sugar · ½ cup (1 stick) butter or margarine · ½ cup shortening · 1 cup strong brewed coffee or water · ¼ cup dark unsweetened cocoa · ½ cup buttermilk · 2 eggs · 1 teaspoon baking soda · 1 teaspoon vanilla

Frosting: ½ cup (1 stick) butter or margarine · 2 Tbsp dark cocoa · ¼ cup milk · 3½ cups unsifted powdered sugar · 1 teaspoon vanilla

Method

Oven method (prep 15 min, bake 20 min, oven 400°F): Combine flour and sugar. Boil the butter, shortening, coffee (or water), and cocoa together in a saucepan; pour the boiling mixture over the flour and sugar. Add buttermilk, eggs, baking soda, and vanilla; mix well. Pour into a buttered 17½ x 11-inch jelly-roll pan; bake at 400°F for 20 minutes, until done. For the frosting, boil butter, cocoa, and milk, then mix in powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth; pour the warm frosting over the brownies immediately out of the oven. Cool and cut into 48 bars.

Tip (printed on the card): if no buttermilk is on hand, substitute 2 teaspoons vinegar or lemon juice mixed into ½ cup milk, or use powdered buttermilk per the package directions.

Microwave method (total microwave time 22 min, HIGH = 100% / MEDIUM HIGH = 70%): Combine flour and sugar. Microwave the butter, shortening, coffee (or water), and cocoa at HIGH about 2 minutes, until just boiling; pour over the flour mixture; add buttermilk, eggs, baking soda, and vanilla. Pour into a microsafe 9 x 11-inch dish; microwave at MEDIUM HIGH 18 minutes, turning the dish every 4–5 minutes, until done (the surface may still look soft). For the frosting, microwave butter, cocoa, and milk at HIGH 2 minutes, stirring once; add powdered sugar and vanilla and stir to blend; pour the warm frosting over the hot brownies. Cool and cut into bars.

Nutrition as printed, per serving: Calories 145, Protein 1.1 g (1.6% USRDA), Fat 6.6 g, Carbohydrates 21.3 g, Sodium 63 mg, Calcium 1.2%, Iron 1.6%, Vitamin A 3.2%, Vitamin C 0.1%.

Notes on the artifact

A two-sided printed recipe card, Great American Recipes "Grandma's Cookies" sub-series, Card 81, Group 16, marked "SAMPLE" in a box on the front. Copyright © MCMLXXXVIII (1988), print code "221 708 101." Publisher address printed on the card: Great American Recipes, Four Gateway Center, 444 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, (800) 335-2975.