We all have our favorite type of brownie. Some of us like them ooeey gooey, some of us like them chewy. Some like a more modern brownie that’s ultra rich and nearly bittersweet, and some of us like them sweet and mild – more of a milk chocolate brownie. Well, chewy milk chocolate brownie lovers, this post if for you (I still don’t quite understand the semi-sweet chocolate craze. I don’t like bittersweet, I like sweet. But who knows, maybe as I continue to age and my tastes change I will start to understand it more… or maybe I will always be more of a milk chocolate loving lady =)!
I like different brownies for different moods and cravings, but the majority of the time I like them chewy, not too gooey and not overpoweringly chocolaty. I think covering them with frosting is a nice splurge and a definite upgrade too.
I mentioned before I frequently visit a local bakery and I always get the same thing – their incredibly chewy brownie covered with chocolate cream cheese frosting. After far too many weekly (and sometimes biweekly) visits there, I finally decided I needed to recreate it at home. After several attempts I have finally done it! I’d say this recipe is an exact replica of that brownie that I adore. The first time I bought and tasted one, I remember thinking it was so different from other brownies, and they are. These brownies use a far less butter to flour ratio (than your average brownie), they have no baking chocolate in them just plain old cocoa powder, they use two types of sugar and they contain a little bit of milk. These will probably be the chewiest brownies you will ever eat! It’s like a big, thick, cookie texture like brownie (you could even call them brownie cookie bars).
I decided to call these Old Fashioned Brownies for a few reasons. First, this is what I picture my Grandma making. Second, the bakery that inspired these has an old fashioned feel to it. Lastly, I think the more modern trend of the brownie is dark chocolate, super rich and gooey and these are quite opposite of that, more classic and old fashioned.
I hope you love these brownies as much as I do!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder*
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup packed light-brown sugar
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 Tbsp milk
- 1 recipe Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting, recipe follows
- 5 oz cream cheese, softened
- 3 Tbsp butter, softened
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 1/2 Tbsp cocoa powder
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt, set aside. In a separate mixing bowl, using a wooden spoon, mix together granulated sugar, light-brown sugar and melted butter until combine. Stir in eggs and vanilla extract and mix until blended. Add in half of the flour mixture and mix just until combine, add in milk and mix just until combine, then add remaining flour mixture and mix just until combine (batter will be very thick). Pour batter into a buttered 8x8 baking dish and spread into an even layer. Bake in preheated oven 40 - 45 minutes until center is nearly set. Allow to cool completely then frost with Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting and cut into squares (the frosting is a must for this recipe). Store in an airtight container.
- In a mixing bowl, using an electric hand mixer on medium speed, whip together cream cheese and butter until smooth and fluffy, about 1 minute. Add in vanilla and powdered sugar, then sift in cocoa powder and mix until smooth and fluffy, about 1 minute.
- Recipe Source: Cooking Classy
Notes
*If you want a stronger chocolate flavor, you can use 1/2 cup cocoa powder instead of the 1/3 cup listed. I just wanted a more mild chocolate flavor for this brownie so I like 1/3 cup, but I have tested out both. If you do ad 1/2 cup cocoa then reduce the flour measurement by 2 1/2 Tbsp.
Faith: Oh, my word. I need these in my life. September 18, 2012 at 2:15pm
The Cooking Actress: I think the darker chocolates are an acquired taste. I always liked both, but when it came to eating a candy especially (but also in general) I always leaned toward milk chocolate. Then a few years ago I started trying to make myself have more dark chocolate since it’s better for you. Now I like it sooo much better than milk chocolate! :P September 18, 2012 at 2:21pm
Sylvie: The one thing I have yet to succeed in making is a brownie (the failures of my many attempts in my teens still haunt me), but this looks so good and so something a brownie amateur like me could eventually succeed in. September 18, 2012 at 2:30pm
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious: That cream cheese frosting is absolutely heavenly! September 18, 2012 at 3:57pm
Anu: Frosting looks delicious and a wonderful top layer. September 18, 2012 at 7:08pm
ladydilettante: This is too delicious for one’s own good. September 18, 2012 at 7:35pm
Jaclyn: Thanks everyone for the comments, I love love getting comments! And yes there is a delicious thick layer of frosting on top to going along with that thick delicious brownie. My husband loved them so much he ate one for breakfast, what a great start to the day =). September 19, 2012 at 8:59am
holly: The frosting looks superb, and the cake looks so fudgy and yum. September 19, 2012 at 11:21pm
sally @ sallys baking addiction: the queen of classy desserts! i am loving these! nothing… and i mean NOTHING… beats a real chewy, dense brownie with chocolate frosting! that’s how my mom always made them :) September 20, 2012 at 12:05pm
Nicole {WonkyWonderful}: These look amazing! I’m craving chocolate today – I’m going to go make them right now & I pinned it :) September 20, 2012 at 4:28pm
Jaclyn: Thanks Sally =)! I hope you enjoy Nicole, thanks for pinning! September 21, 2012 at 5:49pm
Anonymous: OMG !! I will never buy another box of brownie mix. I found this recipe on pinterest and decided to try it and it will definety be on my favorites list. I didn’t have an 8×8 pan so I used an 11×7 glass baking dish and reduced the baking time to 35 min. So So Good !!
Thanks Jaclyn for the recipe :) September 22, 2012 at 5:55pm
Charlotte: I made these today and they for some reason were so hard!! The only change I made was halving the sugar. I don’t uderstand…. :’((( September 22, 2012 at 6:29pm
Jaclyn: Anonymous – I’m so glad to hear you enjoy these. I feel the same way, boxed brownie mixes are out for me =). Thanks for the comment!
Charlotte – These definitely shouldn’t be hard, they are much chewier than your average brownie but shouldn’t be hard. I don’t know that I would recommend halving the sugar and I would just recommend you try baking them for about 35 minutes if you like a gooier brownie. Sorry yours didn’t turn out! September 22, 2012 at 6:56pm
Anonymous: Should I double the recipe if using 9 x 13 pan? September 23, 2012 at 6:52am
Jaclyn: Anonymous – I think I would recommend doing 1 1/2 the recipe and reducing the baking time slightly. Double would probably work too though but you might need to bake a little longer. I hope you enjoy =)! September 23, 2012 at 9:37am
Anonymous: These are absolutely delicious! I added a little bit of whipped cream to my frosting and they are heavenly! Thank you! September 25, 2012 at 10:27am
Mak: I just made these with my roommates! SO yummy and easy! Thank you :) September 26, 2012 at 8:12pm
Jaclyn: Anonymous and Mak – you are so welcome! Thank you for the comments =)! I’m glad to hear you liked them, they are one of my favorites. September 27, 2012 at 7:57pm
Carol | a cup of mascarpone: These look sinfully beautiful!!! October 3, 2012 at 2:24pm
Lucie: Looks amazing and makes me want to get out in the kitchen and start baking October 7, 2012 at 8:04pm
Flamemcbain: Chocolate cheese frosting??? Good Lord in Heaven…that sounds just brilliant..must make these. October 18, 2012 at 8:49am
GingerGirl Photography ~ Amy Ferrell: Just made these and OMG how delicious were they!!!! Success in our house! October 18, 2012 at 7:28pm
Sarah: These are so delicious! Everyone loved them. I made them on a whim when I realized I wanted to bake a treat for breakfast tomorrow morning (and these don’t require softening of butter, etc) , but too late.. everyone ate them as dessert tonight! They made the house smell divine as they were cooking. Just the epitome of Fall :) Love the texture, the taste, you nailed this one! Can’t wait to try some more of your recipes October 24, 2012 at 6:18pm
Sarah: Oh my gosh. wrong recipe, please forget that previous comment! My apologies!
But these look fabulous too, and are next on my list :D October 24, 2012 at 6:19pm
Brisbane wedding hair and makeup: That frosting looks so delicious. I am going to print this out and make it for sure. November 21, 2012 at 1:27am
Tris McCallum: These were delish! The frosting was to die for :) Great brownies this is a keeper. January 15, 2013 at 10:33pm
Jaclyn: Tris – I am so glad you liked them. Thanks for the comment! January 18, 2013 at 9:00pm
Brownies? | College & Cupcakes: [...] the link to the recipe (http://www.cookingclassy.com/2012/09/old-fashioned-ultra-chewy-brownies-with-chocolate-cream-cheese-…). Make sure to taste the frosting as you go, I like it with more cream cheese, personally. I also [...] January 22, 2013 at 5:19pm
Brownie Friday: Old Fashioned Ultra Chewy Brownies with Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting | Corrie Anne: [...] made this recipe to make Old Fashioned Ultra Chewy Brownies with Chocolate Cream Cheese frosting. I wish I would [...] January 25, 2013 at 5:09pm
hu: Why did you only use cocoa powder? Other recipes use melted semi sweet chocolate….How would you make this as a cupcake…? Definitely going to try this recipe. Looks amazing! February 2, 2013 at 11:21am
Jaclyn: If you search the web for brownies with cocoa powder you will find tons of recipes for them that don’t have any melted chocolate =). Some prefer that way because of convenience since cocoa powder seems to be an ingredient many people keep on hand, I used them in these because it seems more old fashioned and when I called the local bakery I asked them and they said they didn’t use melted chocolate just butter and cocoa. I think they’d be okay as cupcakes if you reduce the baking time. I hope you do have a chance to try them =). February 4, 2013 at 7:38pm
Baby got back muscles | Enlightened Runner: [...] I wanted to use the leftover Nutella I had from making these. I found an amazing recipe for chewy brownies (my fav) and decided to top them off with Nutella Buttercream Frosting. The verdict: [...] February 11, 2013 at 8:16pm
Renee: Oh my gosh….these are DELICIOUS!! I doubled the recipe and put it in a 9by 13 pan, baked for 42 minutes and they were perfect! I HAD to cut off a big edge piece and try it as soon as it came out of the oven. I couldn’t resist. I did NOT double the frosting and thought there was still plenty for the larger pan! Thank you for this unique recipe. I too like the old fashioned flavor and chewiness! I think they are plenty chocolatey and the brown sugar really gives depth of flavor. Now if only I could stop eating them! (Giggles..). April 5, 2013 at 2:29pm
Jaclyn: I have that same problem of being able to stop eating them :). I’m so glad you enjoyed these brownies Renee and thanks for the tip for anyone who wants to double the recipe. Thanks for your comment! April 14, 2013 at 3:36pm
Vanzvanni: Hi! I think you have a fabulous recipe! Can i know what type of pan you used? The pans we use does affect the end product right? Thanks! May 2, 2013 at 4:31am
Jaclyn: I used a glass baking dish for these. If you used a dark non-stick pan you would maybe want to reduce the baking time by a few minutes. I hope you love them! May 2, 2013 at 8:31pm