How to Make Katharine's Brownies
Katharine's recipe is just about as easy as a mix. You'll need just eight ingredients and five minutes to mix them all together.
- Start by melting a stick of butter with either cocoa powder or unsweetened baker's chocolate. You'll find this in the baking aisle of your grocery store next to the chocolate chips. And don't worry about dishes! Everything comes together in one pan.
- Once melted, remove from the heat and mix in your sugar until it's dissolved. Next, whisk in the eggs and vanilla.
- Finish by stirring in your flour, salt, and nuts. We tested the recipe with toasted walnuts, but pecans would be great as well.
- Bake the brownies and let them cool completely before slicing. Use a sharp knife to cut them into squares.
What Makes These Brownies Special?
According to a New York Times story, Katharine shared her secret for the best brownies with a neighbor. "Don't put too much flour in your brownies," she advises. This helps keep the brownies moist and soft. These brownies are incredibly fudgy and rich. The toasted nuts add the perfect amount of crunch to each bite.
Tips for Making Katharine Hepburn's Brownie Recipe
- The recipe calls for a well-buttered baking dish, and it's the key to ensuring the brownies don't stick to the pan. They're very soft, so being able to cleanly remove them from the pan is important.
- When adding the eggs to the warm butter mixture, stir constantly so they don't become scrambled in the mixture.
- Don't swap in sweetened chocolate. You need the cocoa powder or unsweetened chocolate to balance the sugar.
- Let the brownies cool completely before slicing! This will help you get clean cuts. It can also be helpful to use a spatula to remove the brownies from the pan.
The Verdict on Katharine's Brownies
These brownies were rich and fudgy and way better than any boxed mix I've tried. They're a must-try if you like fudge-like brownies. If you prefer a cake-like brownie, this probably isn't the recipe for you. Try customizing them with your favorite nut, or leave them out altogether. I will definitely make this again next time I want to skip the boxed mix.
