My very first attempt at making a homemade brownie was in college when I decided to try out this “homemade” recipe from an old magazine. What could go wrong? Well… quite a lot! I had to learn how to bake brownies the right way because the end result was not only the most disappointing brownie ever but also one of the worst tasting ones I’ve ever had in my life. Needless to say, I never made another batch.
Learning how to bake brownies
Fast forward several years later and I am now living on my own as a newlywed, trying desperately to regain my culinary skills after having no cooking experience whatsoever prior to moving into our new apartment. When the opportunity arose to take over the dessert menu at our wedding reception, I realized that I needed to get back into the kitchen if I wanted any chance of actually succeeding. So off I went to the internet to find out how to bake brownies along with some sort of edible guide to baking delicious desserts. What I found was nothing short of a miracle – there are literally thousands upon thousands of recipes available online for people just like me who want to learn how to make their favorite treats right in the comfort of their home.
One of the easiest ways to start learning is by using a simple box mix or pre-made mix. If you’re looking for something really simple, then check out these 10 easy brownie recipes. They require minimal ingredients and time (about 1 hour) and they will teach you everything you need to know about baking brownies.
If you’re more interested in how to bake brownies or making up your own original recipes, then you’ll probably be happy to hear that there are tons of options available for those too. There’s even a site called BakingSoda which allows users to upload pictures of their creations and rate them based on taste. You can browse through hundreds of user submitted recipes and see what other people have come up with. Or you can look through the list of featured recipes that are rated the highest.
Boxed mix vs fresh ingredients
Once you decide on the kind of brownie you would like to make, the next thing to consider is whether you should use boxed mix or fresh ingredients. Box mixes tend to give you better results because they are typically prepared by professional chefs, whereas many homemade brownies are prepared by ordinary folks like you and me. But if you choose to go the homemade route, you will need to plan ahead since all the components must be mixed together 24 hours before being used to bake the final product. Also, you may want to consider experimenting with different types of flour until you discover which type gives you the best results. Some good choices include self-rising flour, cake flour, whole wheat flour and even buckwheat flour.
The last step is to determine exactly how much batter to use per pan. This is where things can get tricky. Your average 8×8 baking dish holds approximately 2/3 cup of batter while 9 inches x 13 inches square size baking dishes hold roughly 1 ¼ cups of batter. Once again, don’t worry, we’re going to help you figure this part out. First, you’ll need to divide each ingredient by three to obtain the portion sizes. For example, let’s assume you want to make a 9 inch brownie. To find the amount of dry ingredients you need, multiply 3 times 1 ½ cups cocoa powder = 4½ cups, divided equally among four 9-inch pans. Now you can calculate the wet ingredients.
Since you’re scaling down the recipe, you’ll need to reduce the amounts of butter, eggs and milk. Let’s say you want to cut the butter in half. Simply divide the total butter amount (16 tablespoons) by two and subtract 2 tablespoons to account for leftover melted butter. That leaves 14 tablespoons to melt in the microwave. Next, simply divide the remaining egg whites in half and subtract ½ egg white to compensate for extra yolks. Finally, you need to scale down the milk slightly because you baked the brownies in non-traditional sized pans. Divide the entire milk amount by two and subtract ½ cup to account for water left behind from evaporated milk. With those adjustments, you’ll still have enough ingredients to create 16 ounces of batter for a 9 inch pan.
Let’s get started baking brownies!
Now that we’ve got the basics understood, it’s time to start mixing. We’re almost down learning how to bake brownies! Here’s what you need to remember: Always sift your dry ingredients first; always measure your liquid ingredients first; and then blend or stir everything together. Don’t skip any steps or rush yourself along. It’s important to pay attention to detail and follow directions precisely. Most importantly, have fun baking!
For those of you who have trouble getting started, here are five quick tips to help you succeed:
1. Make sure you have all essential ingredients and tools. Check the pantry and fridge to ensure you have all the ingredients you need. In addition to measuring spoons and measuring cups, you’ll also need spatulas, whisks, rubber spatula, whisk, wooden spoon, large metal mixing bowls, oven mitts, oven rack, cooling racks, parchment paper, and a sharp knife.
2. Start small. Brownies are relatively forgiving and you can always add more icing and toppings once the basic flavors are established.
3. Follow the instructions carefully. Although every recipe is somewhat unique, they usually fall within certain guidelines. Pay close attention and keep track of what you’re doing.
4. Be patient. Depending on the complexity of the recipe, brownies can take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours to cook. Plan ahead and allow adequate time for preparation.
5. Enjoy! Baking is supposed to be enjoyable and relaxing so enjoy the process. After all, isn’t that why you chose to bake in the first place?
Happy baking everyone!
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