There's no denying that the brownie is a sweet treat that so many people love for its rich sweetness and great taste. Let's take a look at the story behind it.
What Is a Brownie?
A brownie is a flat, square or bar-shaped baked treat that was first developed and made in the United States in the late 19th century, and became a favourite in both the US and Canada. In the first half of the 20th century, the brownie became known as a cross between a cake and a cookie. Brownies have been made in many different styles, sometimes chewy and sometimes more like a piece of cake, depending on how they are made and how rich they are. Brownies may include various nuts and can be topped with icing, whipped cream or brown sugar. Brownies are mostly eaten as a snack or as part of lunch, because they are easy to pick up and enjoy with coffee or milk. They are sometimes served warm and decorated in different ways depending on the baker. Brownies are hugely popular with dessert shops and appear on countless dessert menus.
How the Brownie Was Invented
A chef at the Palmer House hotel in Chicago created the brownie after Bertha Palmer asked for a dessert for the ladies attending the Chicago World's Fair, around 1893. She wanted something smaller than a cake but still cake-like, easy and convenient to eat by hand, and able to fit in a lunch box. The first brownie was topped with apricot and walnuts, and the hotel still makes and sells brownies to the original recipe today.
Brownie recipes first appeared in print in a home cooking book in 1904, a club cookbook in 1904, The Boston Globe in 1905 and the Boston Cooking School cookbook of 1906, written by Fannie Merritt Farmer. The name "brownie" had appeared in a cookbook published in 1896, but there it referred to a cake-style sweet made from sugar.
Brownies Today
Today there are countless brownie recipes, and brownies are loved by everyone with a sweet tooth. These popular squares are easy to make and have brought many people good profits. They are simple to make at home, delicious, and perfect with coffee or milk. From local markets to famous restaurants, you'll find brownies everywhere, because so many people have fallen in love with this treat.
