Delia Smith American Brownies Recipe

Delia Smith American Brownies are made with rich dark chocolate, toasted nuts, and a very high ratio of sugar to flour, which creates the quintessential fudgy texture rather than a cakey one. The result is a dense, dark square with a damp, squidgy center and a paper-thin, crackly crust on top. It is the ultimate treat for chocoholics and makes a perfect, portable dessert for picnics or lunchboxes.

Delia Smith American Brownies Ingredients

• 110g (4 oz) Butter: Plus extra for greasing.
• 50g (2 oz) Dark Chocolate: Delia recommends plain chocolate with at least 60-70% cocoa solids for a grown-up flavor.
• 2 Large Eggs: Beaten.
• 225g (8 oz) Caster Sugar: The high volume of sugar is chemically necessary here to create the crust and the chewy texture.
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract: Adds aroma.
• 50g (2 oz) Plain Flour: Sifted. The small amount of flour ensures the brownies stay fudgy.
• 1/4 teaspoon Baking Powder: Just a tiny lift.
• 1/4 teaspoon Salt: To balance the sweetness.
• 50g (2 oz) Chopped Walnuts or Pecans: Nuts break up the density of the brownie.

How To Make Delia Smith American Brownies

1. Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F/Gas Mark 4). Grease a shallow 18cm (7-inch) square cake tin and line the base with silicone paper (baking parchment).
2. Melt the chocolate: Place the butter and the broken-up chocolate into a heatproof bowl. Fit the bowl over a saucepan of barely simmering water (ensuring the bowl doesn’t touch the water). Allow them to melt slowly, stirring occasionally until smooth and glossy. Remove from the heat and let it cool slightly.
3. Whisk the eggs: In a separate large mixing bowl, combine the beaten eggs, caster sugar, and vanilla extract. Whisk these together thoroughly until they are well combined (you don’t need to whisk to a mousse consistency like a sponge, just mix well).
4. Combine the mixtures: Pour the cooled, melted chocolate and butter mixture into the egg and sugar bowl. Stir well until the batter is a uniform dark brown color.
5. Fold the flour: Sift the plain flour, baking powder, and salt into the bowl. Fold these dry ingredients into the wet mixture using a metal spoon. Finally, fold in the chopped nuts.
6. Bake the brownies: Pour the mixture into the prepared tin and spread it out evenly. Bake on the center shelf of the oven for 30 minutes.
7. Check the texture: After 30 minutes, the center should still feel slightly soft and springy, while the top should be crusty and pale brown. If it feels liquid, give it another 5 minutes, but do not overbake or they will become dry cake.
8. Cool the dish: Remove from the oven and leave the brownies in the tin to cool completely. They will firm up as they cool. Once cold, cut into squares.

Recipe Tips

• Don’t Overbake: This is the golden rule of brownies. A skewer inserted into the middle should come out with sticky crumbs attached, not clean. If the skewer is clean, you have made chocolate cake, not brownies.
• The Crackly Top: That desirable paper-thin crust comes from the sugar being thoroughly mixed with the eggs. Ensure you whisk the sugar/egg stage well before adding the chocolate.
• Cooling Time: It is very tempting to eat these warm, but they are incredibly fragile when hot. You must let them cool in the tin to set the structure, otherwise, they will crumble into a mess when you try to slice them.
• Nut Variation: While walnuts are traditional in Delia’s early recipes, pecans offer a sweeter, buttery crunch that many prefer. You can also omit nuts entirely for a purist version.

What To Serve With American Brownies?

These brownies are intense, so they need something creamy to cut through the dark chocolate. Serve warm squares with a scoop of high-quality vanilla bean ice cream or a drizzle of cold double cream. For a dinner party dessert, plate them with fresh raspberries or a fruit coulis to add acidity and brightness to the plate.

How To Store Leftovers American Brownies?

• Room Temperature: Store the brownies in an airtight tin or container. They keep moist and delicious for up to 3-4 days.
• Freezing: Brownies freeze exceptionally well. Wrap individual squares in foil and freeze for up to 2 months. They can even be eaten semi-frozen for a chewy texture.

American Brownies Nutrition Facts

• Calories: ~280 kcal
• Fat: 14g
• Carbohydrates: 35g
• Protein: 3g
• Nutrition information is estimated per square based on 9 servings.

FAQs

Try More Recipes:

• Delia Smith​ Chocolate Brownies Recipe
• Delia Smith Chocolate Roulade Recipe​
• Delia Smith Chocolate Mousse​ Recipe