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Katharine Hepburn’s Chocolate Brownies

by | Aug 21, 2011

Home » Recipes » Katharine Hepburn’s Chocolate Brownies

I was thrilled to find Katharine Hepburn’s chocolate brownie recipe in the 1975 issue of The Ladies’ Home Journal. It works a treat! This chocolate brownie recipe is everything a brownie is supposed to be: a light flaky top that audibly cracks as you bite in, gooey chocolate insides and crunchy salty walnuts that break up the rich chocolate goodness.

I’m sure there’s a rule against eating the whole tray of brownies yourself, but where’s the fun in that? As Katherine Hepburn said, “sometimes rules are meant to be broken”. I was thrilled to find Katharine Hepburn’s chocolate brownie recipe in the 1975 issue of The Ladies’ Home Journal. It works a treat! This chocolate brownie recipe is everything a brownie is supposed to be: a light flaky top that audibly cracks as you bite in, gooey chocolate insides and crunchy salty walnuts that break up the rich chocolate goodness.

KATHARINE HEPBURN’S BROWNIES

Makes: 9-12 squares      Difficulty: Easy

EQUIPMENT:

Square baking tin, 20cm x 20cm

INGREDIENTS:

60g Dark Chocolate, finely chopped
115g Unsalted Butter
2 large Eggs, lightly beaten
110g Walnuts, roughly chopped
200g Caster Sugar
30g Plain Flour
½ teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 pinch Salt

METHOD:

Preheat the oven to 160 degrees Celsius (140 fan-forced; 320 F). Line the base and sides of the baking tin with baking paper. Grease the paper as well with non-stick spray.

Add the butter and chocolate to a medium-sized saucepan. On low heat stir them together until fully melted. Stir in the caster sugar. Allow the mixture to cool to well below 60 degrees Celsius (144 F). You’re adding eggs next and if it’s too hot the eggs will cook and scramble in the pot!

Stir in the beaten eggs, walnuts, flour, vanilla, and salt until well combined. Pour the batter into the greased cake tin and smooth the top with a spatula.

Check the oven has reached the correct temperature. Set your kitchen timer for 35 minutes. Place the cake tin on the middle rack of the oven. The brownies are ready when a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. If not, add an extra 5 minutes to the timer and bake until done.

Remove from the oven. Let the brownies cool in the pan for 10 minutes before letting them cool on a wire rack. Cut into squares to serve.

BAKING TIPS:

  • Baking time depends on how squishy you like your brownies to be in the centre. If you like them more cake-like in the middle then bake them for 45-50 minutes. Make sure you still check on them regularly.
  • I’ve heard these work fine with a gluten-free flour as well.
  • Brownies will keep well in an airtight container for 3-4 days.

Recipe adapted from Saveur.com

Katharine Hepburn's Chocolate Brownies
Katharine Hepburn's Chocolate Brownies
This is Hollywood star Katharine Hepburn's chocolate brownie recipe from the 1970s.
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Servings Prep Time Cook Time Passive Time
12Brownies 20mins 35mins 1hr
Servings Prep Time
12Brownies 20mins
Cook Time Passive Time
35mins 1hr
Ingredients
  • 60 g Dark Chocolate finely chopped
  • 115 g Unsalted Butter
  • 2 Eggs lightly beaten
  • 110 g Walnuts roughly chopped
  • 200 g Caster Sugar
  • 30 g Plain Flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
  • 1 pinch Salt
Servings: Brownies
Units:
Ingredients
  • 60 g Dark Chocolate finely chopped
  • 115 g Unsalted Butter
  • 2 Eggs lightly beaten
  • 110 g Walnuts roughly chopped
  • 200 g Caster Sugar
  • 30 g Plain Flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
  • 1 pinch Salt
Servings: Brownies
Units:
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 160 degrees Celsius (140 fan-forced; 320 F). Line the base and sides of a 20cm square baking tin with baking paper. Grease the paper as well with non-stick spray.
  2. Add the butter and chocolate to a medium sized saucepan. On low heat stir them together until fully melted. Stir in the caster sugar. Allow the mixture to cool a little first. You’re adding eggs next and if it’s too hot the eggs will cook and scramble in the pot!
  3. Stir in the beaten eggs, walnuts, flour, vanilla, and salt until well combined. Pour the batter into the greased cake tin and smooth the top with a spatula.
  4. Check the oven has reached the correct temperature. Set your kitchen timer for 35 minutes. Place the cake tin on the middle rack of the oven. The brownies are ready when a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. If not, add an extra 5 minutes to the timer and bake until done.
  5. Remove from the oven. Let the brownies cool in the pan for 10 minutes before letting them cool on a wire rack. Cut into squares to serve.
Recipe Notes
  • Baking time depends on how squishy you like your brownies to be in the centre. If you like them more cake-like in the middle then bake them for 45-50 minutes. Make sure you still check on them regularly.
  • I’ve heard these work fine with a gluten-free flour as well.
  • Brownies will keep well in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
Nutrition Facts
Katharine Hepburn's Chocolate Brownies
Amount Per Serving
Calories 244 Calories from Fat 153
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 17g 26%
Saturated Fat 7g 35%
Polyunsaturated Fat 4g
Monounsaturated Fat 1g
Cholesterol 56mg 19%
Sodium 78mg 3%
Potassium 55mg 2%
Total Carbohydrates 22g 7%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Sugars 18g
Protein 3g 6%
Vitamin A 6%
Vitamin C 0.2%
Calcium 2%
Iron 6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

You might our other brownie recipes like Traditional American Brownies, Snickers Brownies, Rocky Road Brownies and Rum and Raisin Brownies. If you love chocolate we have a whole section of baking recipes with chocolate too.

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Easy to bake Chocolate brownies made in just one pan.
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