There are countless reason why I love making brownies. All they require is a bowl and wooden spoon. They’re moist and satisfy that deep chocolate craving. But more sentimentally, brownies are one of the first things I remember making with my sister growing up. We’d take out one bowl, one pan, follow the directions on the back of the unsweetened chocolate box, and about 45 minutes later- warm brownies! We’d burn our fingers trying to get the hot brownies out of the pan. But it was worth it to sit down with a plate of warm brownies and cold milk to watch episode after episode of I Love Lucy. Those were the days. These old school Fudge Brownies with walnuts and chocolate chunks were made in an effort to reach back to those days eating brownies on the living room floor with my sister. The amazing thing is that one bite into the warm chocolate took me right back to being 10 years old, baking with my sister. It’s pretty remarkable what a brownie can do!
I took the recipe for these brownies right off the chocolate box, just the way my sister and I used to rock it. The result was a dark, fudgey and nutty chocolate brownie. Just perfect! And you must eat at least one piece hot out of the pan with a glass of milk. It makes life worth living. You think I’m exaggerating… well I’m not.
Old School Fudge Brownies with walnuts and chocolate chunks
adapted from Toll House
1 2/3 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup cocoa powder
3/4 cup butter
2 Tablespoons strong coffee or water
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 cup chocolate chips or coarsely chopped chocolate bar
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9×13-inch baking pan. (I used a 10-inch round cake pan.)
Combine butter and cocoa powder in a small bowl, and place over a pot of simmering water. Make sure that the simmering water down not touch the bottom of the bowl. Add the coffee or water and stir to melt the ingredients.
In a medium sized bowl whisk together the eggs and the sugar. Add the vanilla extract. When the butter and chocolate have melted and come together, slowly stir the chocolate mixture into the sugar mixture.
Add the flour, baking powder and salt. Stir to combine. Fold in the nuts, saving a small handful for the top of the brownies if you like.
Pour the batter in the pan, sprinkle with chocolate chips or chocolate chunks and remaining nuts. Bake for 18-25 minutes.
Remove from the oven and cut into bars.
HoneyB
Your brownies looks so yummy! I agree, there is nothing better than a warm brownie fresh from the oven with a glass of cold milk!
diva
i’ve got this bookmarked. i remember the I Love Lucy days..and add Bewitched to that, Oreos & a glass of cold milk. was awesome. with this recipe, I’m sure I can recreate some of the old days. thanks joy! :D x
Patricia Scarpin
I have never made brownies in a round pan. These look delectable!
DocChuck
I suspect that brownies conjure up a few memories in nearly everyone, particularly in those of us who have managed to mature (i.e. managed to reach the ripe old age of 50 years plus).
My favorite memory is that in my younger days as a Professor of Education (attempting to educate people how to be “teachers” when classrooms were for learning . . . not for jungle warfare training) . . . some of my female students (most school teachers then were female, fortunately) would occasionally bring me brownies.
Although their motives might have been questionable, their brownies ranged from great to terrible. I graciously accepted them all (but I did not necessarily eat them all).
However, when a certain student (I will call her “E”) brought me a box of brownies using a recipe VERY similar to yours, I was impressed.
“E” went on to become a Master-degreed teacher, then a Registered Nurse, and finally a medical corporation executive, supervising the nursing staff of an entire state.
And I am now her husband (happily retired).
Your post is wonderful, for its content, for its outstanding photos, and for reminding me how lucky I am that “E” made me a box of brownies just like yours.
Deborah
You are giving me a serious craving for chocolate now!
noble pig
These look amazing! Gooey and yummy and cakey. My stomach is now growling!
Steph
These brownies look irresistable, as all your recipes do!
steph (whisk/spoon)
aww shoot…those look so good. walnuts in brownies are a definite must!
Susan from Food Blogga
With walnuts, just like my mom’s. And could they be any fudgier?:)
brilynn
That’s it, I’m off to the kitchen to make brownies!
Brittany
Sometimes the recipe on the box really is the best–particularly with toll house stuff.
YUM YUM
Amanda
Eating homemade brownies fresh out of the oven is one of life’s simple pleasures. Especially when those brownies have a nice cold glass of milk or ice cream accompanied with them.My kind of brownies involve massive amounts of bittersweet chocolate melted into the already chocolatey batter because I normally need more oomph then the cocoa powder offers.
Melanie
Oh, those look so totally delicious and a complete throwback to the good ol’ days of simple desserts – brownies (and usually ice cream!). Yum!
Chelle
These look absolutely incredible! I can’t wait to try them!
peabody
Brownies make the world go round!