Man…can you believe we’re at the end of February already? Pretty amazing. I see a lot of people writing about how sick they are of winter and they just want to see spring. Not me. I Love the snow. I love being holed up at home working on projects. Fortunately for me, winter is hanging on around here — we’ve had snow flurries all day. Just like I like it. I’ve been holed up working on the monogram quilt. I’m making good progress, but I can’t show you ’cause SweetiePie has informed me that she doesn’t want to see it again until it’s done. She wants to be surprised. I would have loved to completely surprise her, but I had to have her opinion on a few things, to be sure that I didn’t take a wrong turn.
Anyway, I wish you lived next door. I’d invite you to trudge through the snow for some tea and brownies.
(Hey – wanna see my Wizard of Oz tea set? There was an occasional little boy tea party when the boys were little, but it’s been sitting around neglected since then.)
When I was little, my very favorite treat from the bakery was a brownie with icing on it. Then, it seems that brownies with icing fell out of favor, or something, because they were harder to find. For years, I searched for a recipe similar to those bakery brownies, but couldn’t really find one. When the boys were growing up, I would try a new recipe and then fall back to the old faithful brownie mixes. It’s really hard to beat a good brownie mix — they’re nice and fudgey, just like I like them.
But a year or two ago, I found a recipe that I really like. Fudgey, with nuts and with a good, chocolaty frosting. I’ll give you the recipe while you’re here having tea with me, ’cause that’s what we do — we swap recipes.
Frosted Brownies
Brownies:
1/2 cup shortening*
6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tablespoons butter
3/4 cup sifted flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 medium eggs
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup broken pecans
In small saucepan, heat shortening, cocoa and butter until butter and shortening are completely melted. Mix well and set aside to cool.
In small mixing bowl, sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
In large mixing bowl, beat eggs with an electric mixer until fluffy. Add sugar and mix to combine, then add cooled chocolate mixture and vanilla. Add sifted ingredients and mix well. Fold in pecans.
Pour batter into well greased 8×8 baking pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes.
Ten minutes before the brownies come out of the oven, prepare the
Frosting:
4 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
In small saucepan, heat the butter, milk, and cocoa until butter is melted and mixture is bubbly. Remove from heat, stir well and add powdered sugar. Add vanilla and beat well. If frosting is too thick to spread, add a little more milk.
Pour frosting on top of brownies while they are still hot from the oven. Cool completely in pan and then cut into 16 squares.
While you’re waiting on the brownies to cool, scrape the frosting bits from the bowl, mix with a few rogue pecans and then suck them off of the spatula. Come on … you know you want to!
Ooops, I couldn’t wait for you to get here, so I took a bite. Sorry.
I probably should have asked before I made you these brownies…what’s your brownie pleasure? Caky or Fudgy? Nuts or no nuts? Frosting or no frosting? Chocolate Chunks or no chocolate chunks? (If you’re a chunky, no frosting, no nuts guest, next time I’ll try to make you these yummy looking brownies that Anne just posted today!)
XOXO,
Anna
*I know that some of you are shortening-o-phobes ’cause it’s not exactly healthy. Here’s my take on it … you’ll probably live longer than me. But those extra years aren’t at the beginning of your life — they’re at the end. The end, when you’re drooling and don’t know your name. In the meantime, I enjoyed these brownies during my shortened, happy life! ;-P
(And please don’t be mean to me and my shortened life in the comments — it’s a joke!)
You are always so funny. My friend and I were just discussing the butter vs shortening a little bit ago, as I always cook with shortening. Brownie recipe looks yummy.
they sure look yummy!
The shortening clause at the end is PERFECTION. Perfection.
Those brownies are making me drool.
Oh Anna, I think you were so right when you said that we were joined at the hip!! I too loved those bakery brownies as a little girl. Nice and frosty goodness with nuts. Oh my, I am drooling now it isn’t the end of my life! I just have to stop licking my computer screen. YUM!! Now all we need is baseball.
I so wished I lived next door Anna! Your brownies look delicious – I love the fudgey style best. My family aren’t big nut lovers but chucks and frosting are always a winner. Will have to get Sarah to make up a batch for afternoon tea.
As I was reading and drooling over your photographs I was thinking …I hope there is a recipe, I hope there is a recipe!!!!
Kept scrolling down…and there it is!
Thank you!!!
Guess who is cooking brownies soon…..
PS. I use butter as my shortening!!! Butter tastes better, you know!
Anna, the brownie’s look so yummy, I am going to try the recipe, Love the Wizard tea set. Gavin just got the part of the scarecrow in the play at school. oxoxox
Love your shortening quote at the end. Now I have a response to some of my “healthy” friends!
Your brownies look so very yummy! When we lived in WI a local Piggly Wiggly made the best brownies with a caramel layer under the frosting. I’m not sure how they made them and I’ve always been reluctant to try my own version -because I know they’d probably turn out pretty good too!
PS: I like snow too….. in December! Now that it’s almost March, I’m ready for some daffodils!
You are so funny! These remind me of Texas Sheet Cake my mom use to make. So good. Even better in brownie form. Thanks for sharing.
my sister’s favorite dessert is brownies, so she baked some for MY birthday (sheesh – she KNOWS that MY favorite dessert is pineapple upside-down cake and bread pudding and carrot cake and snickerdoodles and cherry pie and pumpkin cheesecake) and she frosted them with a butter and marshmallow creme and vanilla sumpin that made up for the fact that they weren’t oatmeal cookies or gingerbread or haystacks or cinnamon rolls or…
Oh YMMMMMMM -a recipe to try.
Try putting some Hershey bars on brownies right after you take them out of the oven – YUM!
Oh yum yum yum. I am a brownie girl, too. I like them so much better than cake. The fudgier the better. Nuts are okay, as long as they’re not walnuts (yuck). Frosting, good!
These look delicious. And I’m quite sure I just gained 5 lbs gazing at them. Too bad because I weigh in tomorrow morning.
Wish I did live close to you. I would have said, “To heck with the diet!” and shared the pan with you (you know, to make sure you didn’t eat too many… to ensure your life was just a bit longer…)
p.s. I use lard in my pastry and that’s even worse than shortening.
p.p.s. I am one of those who is SICK of winter and we’re in for at least another two months of it here. Ugh.
Thanks soooo much for sharing your brownie recipe. They look delicious, and the cute, little tea set. I still have my daughter’s little tea set sitting in my kitchen window, and I’m pretty sure it hasn’t seen action for at least eight years. It still makes me happy to look at.
Even though we don’t get any snow to speak of, I like winter too. I like the cozy feel of everyone being home because it gets dark earlier and sitting by the fireplace. Summer’s fun too, but it seems like everyone’s out and about more then.
Oh Anna ….. YUMMMMM, what are ya doing to me!!!???
I’m on my way :o) …………
Ummm, hang on … that could take a while.
Ok, gonna hafta make my own. Thanks so much for the recipe ;o) … and for the ‘shortened life’ advice. Makes sense to me :o)!!!
Hugs,
Joy :o)
i am having a terrible time not giving you a hard time about SHORTENING.
beautiful brownies.
love them with frosting.
and nuts.
and you.
Anna,
Those brownies look scrumpdelicious – so yummy and I am not much for chocolate baked things- I like my chocolate in chocolate bars not cake or ice cream but brownies are different. A friend of mine made a recipe called San Francisco Foggies that are a brownie. They are the best brownies that I ever had.
If I find the recipe, I will send it to you.
Have a great weekend.
Anna
I know nothing about shortening but I always bake with butter, just as bad, I mean good. These look yummy, I love them fudgey with a crunchy top. Nuts or chocolate, it doesn’t matter to me. What a neat teas set.
You just crack me up! I would love to live next door and come over for tea and brownies. Thanks for the great recipe. I am trying it out tomorrow… for sure! YUM… I can already taste them.
I’m with you– I like winter and wouldn’t mind if it stuck around a little longer. Love rainy weekends. Those brownies look delicious and the tea set is so cute. (Wow, that lion has a big head!) Glad to see you are continuing to honor your word for 2010 :o)
Awwww, wouldn’t it be nice if I could come over and have a brownie – I’d trudge through the snow, cane and all!! : ) I’m like you – I really kind of enjoy winter. It’s so nice to not have endless yard work always waiting for us to do….. so maybe that’s telling you I’m just lazy, LOL. And of course it’s the only time of year the farmer is around much. I’m more of a fudgy, no frosting or nuts kinda girl, but I never met a brownie I didn’t like. And I love that wizard of oz tea set!
Wouldn’t you know I’ve got almost all the ingredients for those in at the moment!!..Dangerous!! :o)
Those brownies look fab, Anna. :o)
I LOVE your shorter life comment. I might print that out, laminate it, frame it and stick it up in my kitchen! LOL
A brownie isn’t a brownie without frosting! Will have to try these – even without the nuts as I have none and do not plan to venture forth today! I still use shortening in my chocolate chip cookies – they taste better! Your tea party sounds fun! Wish I had sled dogs and a sled – I’d come visit!
Oh do those look yummmmy…
I don’t think I’ve ever had a brownie I didn’t like unless it was overbaked perhaps. I think I like the cakey ones best, with or without frosting.
I shoulsn´t read posts like this, when I am on a diet (lol).
I celebrate my first blogaversary, if you like you are welcome to join the giveaway and grab the award.
Have a great weekend
Janine
Lovely cuppa and yummy brownies , next time you can come to my house for afternoon tea !
YUMMY! I’m drooling!
What a dear, sweet tea set! I’d love to have tea with you and I wouldn’t hesitate to have a brownie with shortening with you. I’m with you – life is to be enjoyed and as long as one is reasonable about things, there shouldn’t be a problem!
It was very snowy here today as well and school was canceled. I guess thoughts of brownies were in the air because Frannie and I made a batch too – from scratch. I like mine chewy, with nuts and Frannie likes here chewy with chocolate chips, so we had to compromise – just plain old chewy! There’s nothing like a chocolaty, chewy brownie with a nice cold glass of milk! We used the recipe from the back of the Nestle Choco-Bake box – very good! Frannie is becoming quite the cook!
S.W.A.K.
Fudgey naked brownies are my favorite and I’m all about a box mix for brownies. Nothing compares. UNLESS you make Barefoot Contessa’s Outrageous Brownies! Now THAT’S one yummy brownie! But very, very rich. Thank you for sharing your recipe. I will give it a try.
Your brownies look yummy Anna!! I feel the same way about the snow, it’s so pretty ~ better than looking at everything brown and no mowing or mulching** Yay ; )
These are delicious looking. Hmm. We might have to try these. What a fun tea set.
Yummy looking brownies and a great take on shortening. Completely agree. :)
i too am snowed in…have been making pie doughs & galette doughs & freezing…
sure wish i lived close by…
i could bring over my latest “nude” brownie from “baked: new frontiers in baking” cookbook…
no frosting but a very dense, delish one!
will def try this baby of ours!
have a fun & productive w/e!
I love your point about the shortening Anna! Those brownies look scrummy! Lucy x
I love how you think Anna! Thanks for linking to my blog. My brownies are gone, but I’d drive up/over to share yours!
We got snow last night. How about you? Looks like a good knitting day!
Your Wizard of Oz tea set is adorable and I wish you were my neighbor, too. We could enjoy your delicious brownies (thank you for sharing your recipe) and talk until we’re old and gray (oh dear, I’m already old and gray). Okay, we can talk until we turn blue.
OK, that’s it. I’m on my way!
I am longing for spring, but then we have no snow here, just mud.
It’s a well known fact that if you have a big glass of “good for you” milk with them it will balance out the shortening! I thought everyone knew that.
Oh, I didn’t know you could ICE brownies. I wish you hadn’t told me that…
I think you need to start saving to send ME to a fat spa if you insist on continuing to post tempting recipes….I won’t be able to afford to send myself because I will have spent all my money buying all the stampy gadgets etc. that you tempt me with!
Oh and I’m a frosting gooey no nuts girl :)
be there in 5 minutes.
:)
Far too many ingredients Anna. I have the BEST brownie recipe, consists of only five ingredients and has quantities of shortening and sugar that I believe have been banned by your government!
Do ya wan’ it???
This was fun to read, Anna–I feel like we were having that tea party after all! Thank you for the recipe–I’ve given up on brownie mixes because of the creepy extras in the ingredient list. (Technically I’ve also banned regular shortening, but I found a comparable substitute in the ‘organic’ grocery section–the texture is a little like Noxema, but it really bakes as well as regular shortening.) :)
I admire your fortitude this winter, Anna! I’m ready for spring–we’ve been dumped on here in the Northeast…Victor sinks to his chest in some parts of the yard! XO
You’re makin’ my mouth water.
I’m with you, bring on the shortening, butter and bacon fat. Of course, I could probably stand to eat a little less of it.
Yummy! I was just craving brownies, guess what I’ll be baking this afternoon!? What do you class as shortening??? We have different names for ingredients here in Oz. toni xxx
Of course I love my brownies with nuts and I like them fudgey but with no icing. Thanks for the recipe Anna.
Mmmmm. Brownies. Looovvvve! I must’ve eaten a truckload of them when I was preggers. Of course, I don’t need that excuse anymore.
Anna, those brownies look so delicious. I just had breakfast but am wondering whether or not I’ll bake some brownies right now! (And eat them inmediately too, ofcourse).
I have no idea what shortening is. I always bake with butter. Real butter. I know there are people who bake with diet products, but really, I am all for healthy eating habits, but I think something baked, buttery and sweet can fit perfectly into a healthy pattern, as long as it’s not the only thing people eat (although that sounds tempting when it concerns brownies looking as yummy as yours ;-)) And then I think then it’s a total waste to use diet products, yuck. So real butter, real sugar, real chocolate it is here too. Yummm
Brownies were one of the first American treats I learned to make! From my next-door neighbor out in the middle of the Mojave Desert in the early seventies. I still have the original recipe card I wrote it on—in imminent danger of disintegrating! It’s been a favourite all these years…But I may have to try this one. With flagrant disregard for certain persons attempts to lose weight! Everything tastes better with frosting after all! [and I could always hide them!] Glad you’re enjoying the snow!
Oh how I wish we could choose our neighbors…think of all the trouble (fun) we could get in to and how motivated we could keep each other on projects! Soungs a little like heaven. My sister in Seattle has always had this story about when we’re old we will all live at the “Carmen Miranda nursing home” where there will young beautiful nurse people (men and women) that never let us have pain (pain meds galore) and do things to make us laugh and be HAPPY. (there is more embellishement to this story but I’ll stop here). I just received an email today about getting old and the privileges it brings…I’ll send it, it’s funny – it says you can have dessert every day! I might have to do some baking today – I don’t have any other chocolate in the house. Be happy…Robin
Thanks for the yummy recipe!! And that Wizard of Oz tea set is just too cute!
Whole Foods carries non-hydrogenated shortening by Earth Balance in the refrigerator section. (Some grocery stores and some Trader Joe’s have it, too.)
Spectrum Organics also makes one, but I have not tried it yet.
I made these brownies today! Thank you… THANK YOU for the recipe. My family has devoured them!
Jennifer :)
The brownies look YUMMY! And thanks for the recipe too!! Can’t seem to get out of the kitchen these days.
Thanks also Anna for always being there to comment on my blog posts. You have been so faithful! I hope that someday we can meet in person.
Hugs,
Joni
HOLY MOLY those brownies look so good, but its the frosting that Im intriqued with , I need to try that recipe!!!!!
Shortening is the least of my worries. Red food dye, high-fructose corn syrup, articficial sweetners…they are all my friends. I could also eat butter right off the stick. In fact, I’d like to put a cold stick of butter on a stick and eat it like a popsicle. Everything taste better with butter. So am I worried about a little brownie made with shortening? No. Not a problem. Those brownies look amazing, by the way. Fudgy, cake-y, chocolatey, nutty, smooth, chunky, frosted, plain…love them all, but could I have some butter on mine? Just kidding.
XOXO, Anna~
Cassie
PS–I don’t want anything to get in the way of our friendship. I’m going to pretend that I didn’t read that part about winter, ok?
Oh gilding the lily, yummo. We did not have one flake this year so enjoy for me xoxoxox Clarice-who is a butter snob ; -P
Me too, I much prefer Winters to Summers. Autumn and Spring are OK too, but I really love it when it’s freezing. So Singapore is really not the ideal place for me to live ;). That’s why I’m enjoying being home in Switzerland at the moment. Unfortunately the snow has already melted, but it’s still quite chilly and I can wear a winter coat…. yay….
And those Brownies look wicket; I will definitely try your recipe when I get home ( probably when I host my quilt group).
LOVE the photos and can practically taste these brownies through the screen-lol.
Thanks for sharing the recipe too.
Must. Make. These. Brownies. They look SO good! When I was little my mama made the best brownies with chocolate mocha buttercream frosting. LOTS of frosting!! I want some of your snow!! We’ve had none this year. We live too close to the flippin’ ocean. Stupid ocean. x
those Brownies look lovely but I don’t think I’ll be attempting them sorry — me and brownie baking fell out last time I attempted them and I have the scar on my lip to prove it :-( Gorgeous tea set though
Fudgy! Nuts! No frosting! Mmmm these look sooooo good. Yum.
Mmmm. Thanks for the brownie recipe. I love your tea set!!
You never have to ask for permission to bake brownies! Who doesn’t love them? I like them cakey with thin frosting. I don’t like the frosting to dominate. Nuts are good. This looks like a perfect recipe. It really is hard to find a perfect brownie recipe. They are either too fudgey or too cakey. The teaset is lovely. What sweet photos.
YUM YUM
Anna,
I love you! I am a frosted brownie fan and they must have nuts. At our house we call them “boy brownies” and now you know the rest of the story.
I am not a shortening-a-phobe and I really only use it in a few goodie recipes so I’m not worried. Your recipe sounds much like mine, but mine has all butter and no shortening. I’d like to try yours just to compare.
Cute tea set. We had boys at our tea parties too and I tried hard to find “man tea cups” just for them.
Jody
Love the Wizard of Oz tea set! Yes, I have done tea parties with boys too. Wouldn’t trade those memories for anything….
Thanks for introducing Cassie to us. I’m still reading through her blog and trying to decide whether to join the Pillow Case thingie. Better hurry up and decide, or I’ll be playing catch-up again!
WendyBee
Now i really do wish I lived next door – snow and brownies = perfection!!
Thanks for the recipe. I’ve been looking for a good brownie recipe for ages. I really wanted one with cocoa powder rather than chocolate and now I have one!
:o)
xxx
Oh MAN! I am so trying to lose the poundage I gained at Christmas….you are killing me with these! I copied and pasted your recipe to my file of tempting treats. I am weak….I so love chocolate! Oh man!
**sigh** chocolate bliss….please don’t get into my head!
xoxo
becky
Cannot wait to try these delicious looking brownies! :)
My girls gave up sweets for Lent, so I think I will wait until Easter to make these-and not torture them! :)
I think I’d weight about 1000 pounds if I lived next door to you Anna! I’d bake some cinnamon bread and invite you over in the am for lattes and bread. Then you could make brownies in the afternoon and invite me over for brownies and tea. And then after dinner….
What IS shortening? Is it your word for lard? I’m with you, a bit of lard and I’m happy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lard
Am I imagining things? Have you said in your most recent post that you’re coming to Europe? I’m a little sleep deprived so perhaps I’m reading it wrong through the fog. Come here for tea!
YUM!!! Can we put in an order?? Is Minneapolis too far away to bring brownies along……?
oh my! today I shared a pic of my own brownies but my recipe looks like a weight watchers brownie recipe compared to yours! wow I’m definitely giving yours a go! delicious!