Katharine Hepburn's Famous Brownies

I have read several places about Katharine Hepburn's "famous" brownies.  Supposedly these are the "best" brownies EVER!  Now I am intrigued.  So off to the Internet I went.  I found many recipes for her brownies, so I settled for the recipe on the Joy of Cooking website (it even has a video!)  These are really easy to make, though you might have to make a run to the grocery store for unsweeten baker's chocolate.  I did omit the salt in the recipe as I am pre-diabetic and I need to be "salt free."

Katharine Hepburn Brownies by Joy of Cooking

2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped

1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick)  cut into pieces

1 cup  white sugar

2 large eggs, at room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 tsp salt * (I omitted - see note above)

1 cup  chopped walnuts or pecans or 2/3 cup chocolate chips (optional) - I opted for the chocolate chips because my family is not big on nuts.

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F and place rack in center of oven.  Butter an 8 inch square baking pan and line the bottom of  the pan with parchment paper.  Melt the chocolate and butter in a stainless steel bowl placed over  a saucepan of simmering water.  (I just put my Kitchen Aid mixer bowl over a medium size pot filled  about 1/4 with water) Remove from heat and stir, or whisk, in the sugar.  Next, stir in the vanilla extract. Whisk in the eggs, one at a time.  Finally, stir in the flour, salt and chopped nuts or chocolate  chips (if using). Pour into the prepared pan and bake for about 30 - 35 minutes, or  until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few  moist crumbs clinging to it.  Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack. Then cover and  place in the refrigerator overnight. Serve at room temperature or  chilled.  These freeze very well. Makes 16 brownies. Entire Recipe: Katharine Hepburn Brownies by Joy of Cooking 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick)  cut into pieces 1 cup white sugar 2 large eggs, at room temperature 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 1/4 tsp salt * (I omitted - see note above) 1 cup  chopped walnuts or pecans or 2/3 cup chocolate chips (optional) -  I opted for the chocolate chips because my family is not big on nuts. Directions: Preheat oven to 325 degrees F and place rack in center of oven.  Butter an 8 inch square baking pan and line the bottom of  the pan with parchment paper.  Melt the chocolate and butter in a stainless steel bowl placed  over a saucepan of simmering water.  Remove from heat and stir, or whisk, in the sugar.  Next, stir in the vanilla extract. Whisk in the eggs, one  at a time.  Finally, stir in the flour, salt and chopped nuts or chocolate  chips (if using). Pour into the prepared pan and bake for about 30 - 35 minutes,  or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few  moist crumbs clinging to it.  Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack. Then cover and   place in the refrigerator overnight. Serve at room temperature  or chilled.  These freeze very well. Makes 16 brownies. ENJOY!!! Verdict: Were these the "BEST" brownies I have ever tasted?   Yes, they were good, but I won't exactly classify them as the  BEST brownies in the whole wide world, but they are pretty darn  gone good.  My resident expert, aka my husband, ate 3 or  4 when he got home from work!  That pretty much says it all!