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Lunch Lady Brownies

Lunch Lady Brownies
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Lunch Lady Brownies are a nostalgic, classic dessert that combines rich chocolate flavor with a perfectly gooey and chewy texture. Made from simple pantry staples like cocoa powder, butter, sugar, and eggs, these brownies are easy to make and deliver a comforting, crowd-pleasing treat reminiscent of school cafeteria favorites.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour (or almond/oat flour for gluten-free option)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Optional Mix-Ins

  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans)
  • 1/4 cup dried cherries or raspberries
  • 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract or crushed candy canes (for mint variation)
  • 2 oz melted bittersweet chocolate (for extra fudgy variation)

Instructions

  1. Prepare Your Pan and Ingredients: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper for easy removal. Gather and measure all ingredients precisely.
  2. Melt Butter and Mix With Cocoa: Melt the butter gently over low heat or in the microwave. Stir in the unsweetened cocoa powder until the mixture is smooth and glossy, unlocking deep chocolate flavor.
  3. Combine Sugar, Eggs, and Vanilla: In a separate bowl, whisk together granulated sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract until the mixture is thick and pale, creating structure and balance.
  4. Incorporate Cocoa Mixture: Slowly add the cocoa and butter mixture to the egg and sugar mixture. Fold gently to combine evenly without overmixing.
  5. Add Dry Ingredients: Sift the flour and salt into the wet mixture and stir just until no dry streaks remain, being careful not to overmix to avoid tough brownies.
  6. Add Optional Mix-Ins: Fold in any chocolate chips, nuts, dried fruit, or other additions evenly into the batter.
  7. Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out with moist crumbs but no wet batter.
  8. Cool and Slice: Allow the brownies to cool completely in the pan before cutting into squares to preserve their fudgy texture and prevent crumbling.

Notes

  • Use high-quality cocoa powder for the richest chocolate flavor.
  • Don’t overbake; remove brownies when slightly underdone for maximum gooeyness.
  • Cool completely before slicing to maintain chewy texture and avoid crumbling.
  • Fold ingredients gently to prevent tough brownies caused by overmixing.
  • Customize with optional mix-ins like nuts, chocolate chips, or dried fruit without altering the base recipe.

Nutrition

Keywords: Lunch Lady Brownies, fudgy brownies, chewy brownies, chocolate dessert, classic brownies, easy brownie recipe, nostalgic dessert

Find it online: https://mealsbysarah.com/lunch-lady-brownies/