Gooey and Fudgy: Hershey's Ultimate Chocolate Brownies Recipe Review

This recipe actually comes from a Hershey's cookbook published way back in 1987, and it was my mother's "secret recipe" for as long as I can remember. I called her for the recipe so many times over the years (having yet again lost whatever slip of paper I'd written it down on), until she finally sent me the book with a post-it note on the cover, " Do NOT lose this book. Signed, Your Mother." The threat was enough; this book has a place of pride on my shelf.

If the worst ever happens and I do lose the book, the internet will save me. Hershey's has kindly posted the recipe to their website:

• Ultimate Chocolate Brownies from Hershey's

The beauty of this recipe is in its simplicity. Other so-called "ultimate" chocolate brownie recipes rely on layers upon layers of gourmet chocolates, plus corn syrup to make the brownies chewy. This one is a simple shot of unsweetened cocoa powder (Hershey's brand recommended, of course), a few handfuls of chocolate chips, and a lot of butter and sugar. We like the straightforward flavor of the cocoa in this recipe, and the chocolate chips provide the perfect texture contrast.

If you want, you can frost the top with chocolate buttercream, but even as a kid, I thought that was overkill!

Preparing the recipe is a basic dump-and-stir method, and is ready for the oven in less than 10 minutes. Make sure the cocoa mixture is fairly stiff before you move on to the next step. This ensures that the cocoa powder has melted sufficiently into the butter and water. Also be sure the chocolate has cooled to room temperature before adding the eggs or else you'll risk scrambling them.

I've made this recipe for more birthday and office parties than I can count - not to mention for the odd mid-week chocolate fix. They'll satisfy your sweet tooth, no problem!

(Images: Emma Christensen)

I haven't had a brownie in ages. This would do the trick nicely.

posted by rosebud on October 21st 2009 at 3:24pm
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This is also my family's secret brownie recipe. :) A crowd pleaser every single time!

posted by BetsyGinDC on October 21st 2009 at 3:31pm
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I just made the Baked brownie (http://bakedshop.com/cookbook.html) and woah was it good. About a third of the sugar is brown sugar, and it calls for 2 sticks of butter, so it comes out with this amazing caramel undertone. No chips or nuts (my favorite), and it's intensely moist but no gooey. Just awesome.

posted by SheriB on October 21st 2009 at 4:18pm
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I love when you post Hershey things (I work there...)

This made me think of a few things, one was that I was in the company store the other day and they gave me a FREE copy of the 2008 holiday recipes book. (you know the type they sell at the checkout counter?)

Also, they created this new site (I think recently) to help plan for all of your holiday baking and cookie exchange parties. http://www.kissescookies.com/

I'm pretty in love with the site! And they have a contest to win a Hershey hosted cookie party.

posted by mf1192 on October 21st 2009 at 4:46pm
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If anyone wants a low calorie, high health boost to their brownies, you might want to try this pumpkin tip http://tinyurl.com/yzf58kl, sort of on the lines of using apple sauce, only better.

posted by skyblueeyedjenne on October 21st 2009 at 5:56pm
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My mom's "secret recipe" is the one on the box of Baker's Chocolate. I'll have to see how it compares to Hershy's. The Hershey's chocolate cookies won't ever be unseated as best, though.

posted by Tiamat_the_Red on October 21st 2009 at 6:58pm
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I goofed one time and put an extra egg in the mix. If you like your brownies more cake-like, the extra egg is the way to go.

posted by cooksfor2 on October 21st 2009 at 8:21pm
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Like tiamat, I am a fan of the Baker's Chocolate recipe. I have friends who swear those brownies make them high (and I swear I only follow the recipe).

posted by Charlotte on October 21st 2009 at 9:05pm
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thanks.
i just made these and they were fun, fast and easy!
not to mention heaven!

posted by simplist on October 22nd 2009 at 11:15pm
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Why is the picture here so different from the picture on the linked recipe? The picture here looks much more like my Baker's Chocolate recipe (which I use Ghirardelli for - mmmm!) than it does the Hershey's picture.

posted by cara_mia on October 26th 2009 at 10:41pm
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