SWF ISO TPB (the perfect brownie)

for years i have been searching for an amazing brownie recipe. i have found some good ones, but i have to admit, i still like a boxed mix best. i know, i know… shame on me for saying that, but it is not like i don’t think it is out there– i just haven’t found it yet. i am hopeful though.

i have decided to stop trying new brownie recipes here and there, and to start a full force quest. i will be baking several brownie recipes over the next few weeks and enlisting some of my friends and coworkers as judges, to ensure that my personal preferences are not the only taken into account. i want to be able to announce a winner that you will be confident in making the next time you want brownies, knowing they will be a hit. i understand that not everyone likes the same things; some people like chewy; some people like cakey; some people like fudgey; some people like flaky; some people like chocolate chips; some like nuts….but the point here is to make a great batch of brownies that most people will admit are amazing, and those that like add-ins can go ahead and add nuts, chips, raspberry, mint, etc.

SO– stay tuned and see how they turn out! i will post the reviews for each contestant so that you can tell if they would be best for your preferences. if you have a recipe that you think will knock our socks off, please send it to serialbaker@gmail.com; if it is a hit, i will send you a little something  [o:

the contestants so far (i may delete and/or add some)

DONE -chewy, fudgy, triple chocolate brownies (from cooks illustrated)

DONE -nana’s brownies (from mick stitch)

DONE-best brownies (from all recipes)

DONE-mmmm brownies (from all recipes)

-ina’s outrageous brownies (from barefoot contessa)

-the baked brownie (from baked)

-fudge brownies (from king arthur flour)

DONE-the ultimate brownie (from betty crocker)

DONE-one bowl brownies (from baker’s)

DONE-boxed mix

Meet your judges and their “ideal” brownie:

GD- Chewy, medium thickness with a very thin layer of  flakes on top

MM- Fluffy and complex flavoring

TG- I’m a corner or edge guy, I like them soft & chewy at the same time.

JD- A little thick and fudgey/chewy

CI- Fudgy – YES! I could do a little bit of chew. Not too much, not too little. I prefer a brownie sans nuts. Thick I think is best with fudgy. Thin is in, sometimes. I guess thin works without fudge, as long as they come out crispy.

AH- Thin are good, but can be dry in the middle. Fudge… is awesome. Thick is cool, but can also be dry if overcooked; however, they then become flakey/crumbly, and that’s good – especially good with ice cream.

SB- Thick and fudgey. Like my women.

CN- Fudgy.  I do like nuts or other types of chips in the brownies (i.e. peanut butter chips).  It gives the brownie more texture.  I don’t think I necessarily have a preference on thickness, but it seems that many of the thicker brownies are more cakey, not fudgy.

CE- NO NUTS!!! There is no place for nuts in a brownie! Flakey on top, but rich and soft inside. Raisins are a plus

EF- Definitely chewier – not cakey.

BC- I’ll go with chewy and thick! I personally like when there are chocolate chunks or chips in the brownie!

SR- Moist, fugdey on the thicker side

CD-

KH-

KE-

DS-

KO-