Description

Katharine Hepburn’s Brownies are a rich and fudgy classic brownie recipe featuring a smooth cocoa-butter base mixed with crunchy walnuts or pecans. These brownies bake at a low temperature to achieve a gooey, moist texture, making them an irresistible treat perfect for any occasion.

Ingredients

Scale

Brownie Base

1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Dry Ingredients

1 cup sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup chopped or broken-up walnuts or pecans
Pinch of salt

Instructions

Preheat the Oven: Heat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit (165 degrees Celsius) to prepare for baking the brownies.
Melt Butter and Cocoa: In a saucepan, melt the butter and stir in the cocoa powder until the mixture is smooth. Remove from heat and let it cool for a few minutes.
Add Eggs and Vanilla: Transfer the cooled cocoa-butter mixture to a large bowl. Whisk in the eggs one at a time until fully incorporated, then stir in the vanilla extract.
Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, mix together the sugar, flour, chopped nuts, and a pinch of salt.
Mix Dry into Wet: Add the dry ingredients to the cocoa mixture and gently stir until just combined, avoiding overmixing to keep the brownies tender.
Prepare Pan and Bake: Pour the batter into a greased 8 x 8-inch square baking pan. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, taking care not to overbake so the brownies remain gooey in the center.
Cool and Serve: Allow the brownies to cool completely in the pan before cutting into bars for serving.

Notes

For a nut-free version, omit the walnuts or pecans or substitute with chocolate chips.
Do not overbake; brownies should be moist and fudgy, not dry.
Make sure the cocoa and butter mixture is not too hot before adding eggs to prevent scrambling.
Use chopped walnuts or pecans for added texture and flavor.
Storing brownies in an airtight container keeps them fresh for several days.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Katharine Hepburn brownies, classic brownies, fudgy brownies, walnut brownies, cocoa brownies, easy brownie recipe, homemade brownies