Brenda Brownies (Half Batch)

This recipe takes the standard Brenda Brownies recipe and scales it to fit an 8”x8” baking pan.

• Use this recipe to make Brenda Brookies

• Here’s the full batch recipe for Brenda Brownies, scaled for a 13”x9” baking pan

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Brenda Brownies (Half Batch)

To your favorite mixing bowl add:

1 cups sugar

1/4 cup cocoa

Stir well, then cream in:

1/2 cup butter, softened

Next add:

1/2 tsp vanilla 

1/2 tsp salt 

2 eggs, mixing well after each

Finally, stirring until just incorporated, add:

1 cups flour 

Set oven to 350F. Spoon about half the batter into a greased 13x9 pan, sprinkle with:

1/3 cup miniature marshmallows

2 Tbsp chocolate chips

Spoon and smooth the remaining batter evenly over the top.

Bake for 22-27 minutes. Serve cooled. 

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Brenda’s Tips:

• Serving size: recipe made to fit an 8”x8” pan (~9 brownies)

• Use this recipe to make Brenda Brookies

• Stirring the cocoa into the sugar allows the granules to eliminate any lumps of cocoa, enhancing the texture of the finished brownies

• If baking at sea level, reduce the flour to 3/4 cup

• Recommended to use a metal pan, using glass will cause the brownies to cook differently

• These brownies are Brenda’s favorite dessert that she makes

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Window to B’s Kitchen…

Brenda Cookies (Half Batch)

Sometimes you want cookies, but you don’t want the temptation presented by an entire batch . . . we’ve simply adjusted this recipe to create half the cookies of the regular recipe.

• Use this recipe to make Brenda Brookies

• Here’s the full batch recipe for Brenda Cookies

• Read the full Brenda Cookie Story, or buy some from Brenda’s Bake Shop.

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The Brenda Cookie (Half Batch)

Cream together, mixing for approximately 5 minutes:

1/2 cup (4.5 oz) brown sugar

1/2 cup (4 oz) sugar

10 Tbsp (5 oz) butter, softened 

Then add, stirring until smooth:

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla 

Sift dry ingredients together and fold into the above mixture:

1 3/4 cups (8.5 oz) flour

3/4 tsp baking powder

5/8 tsp baking soda

1/8 tsp salt

1/2 tsp coarse salt

Just before the dry ingredients are fully incorporated, add:

1/2 pkg (5 oz) Ghirardelli 60% Cacao Chips

Do not overmix!

Portion by scooping equal sized dough balls onto a greased 13x9. Cover and refrigerate 24-72 hours.

Bake at 370F for 8-10 minutes, adding 5 minutes for extra-large cookies. 

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Brenda’s Tips:

• Serving Size: Brenda’s 1/2 cup cookie scoop makes 8 to 10 balls of dough per batch

• Use this recipe to make a full batch of Brenda Cookies

• This 1/2 batch is perfect to make Brenda Brookies with

• Brenda uses a stand mixer to make the cookies. She starts the butter and sugar creaming and then measures out all the other ingredients while waiting for the sugars and butter to whip. 

• Resting the dough allows the flavors to fully meld and the textures to develop. This cookie has a chewy bite with just the right combination of intense dark chocolate and caramelized butter. It will taste good immediately, but if you can be patient it will be even better.

• Brenda seldom recommends a brand, but you’ll notice that Ghirardeli 60% Cacao are listed. These chips will create the flat layers of intense chocolate that indicates a true Brenda Cookie.

• At high elevations, add more flour. At the farm (2600 ft), Brenda uses 8.8 oz of flour and at home (6200 ft) Brenda uses 9.2 oz

• Let the baked cookies rest 3-6 hours before serving or packaging. A properly prepared Brenda Cookie will stay soft internally without being stored in an airtight container.

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Window to B’s Kitchen…

Creaming butter + sugar:

Incorporating flour:

Mixing in the chocolate chips:

Scooping the dough:

Crepes

During the 10 years Brenda lived in NYC she quickly gained the reputation as “The Baker.” Any get together, party, church function, or work potluck she’d show up with an incredible dessert. She also has the sweetest sweet-tooth known to man. She once ate over half of an 8“ round chocolate-chocolate cake in one sitting (it was a competition, yes she won). And, she’s eaten an entire pan of brownies in one day multiple times.

Since leaving NYC, marrying John (who doesn’t have a sweet-tooth), and starting a family in Victor, ID she’s begun cooking more savory dishes. She’s also keen to create dishes like Crepes. That way, her and her family can make them any way they’d like. Sweet. Savory. And everything in between.

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Crepes

Set non-stick skillet to medium heat. 

While heating, add to the pitcher of a blender:

2 eggs

1/2 cup cold water

2/3 cup milk

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup flour

2 Tbsp sugar

2 Tbsp butter, melted

Blend until smooth. Grease skillet with butter. Pour about 1/4 cup batter in, swirling the pan to thin out the crepe, cook 30-60 seconds, flip over and cook an additional 30 seconds. Repeat. Serve hot.

Delicious additions....

• Cheddar cheese, ham & poached egg

• Sautéed zucchini with pepperoni & cheese

• Chopped chocolate & salted caramel sauce

• Berries & whipped cream

• Bananas, whipped cream & caramel drizzle

• Butter & syrup

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Brenda's Tips:

• Serving Size: 6-8, 9” crepes

• Refrigerate crepe batter for up to 48 hours.

HOW TO: Form Cinnamon Rolls

HOW TO: Form Cinnamon Rolls

1. Prepare a large, clean surface by sprinkling with flour. You can use a rolling mat. Brenda’s preference is to use a large canvas cloth mat or a large silicon mat.

2. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough in a large rectangle shape about 1/2 inch thick. A true or close to true rectangle will result in uniform finished rolls. For large rolls, the rectangle should be approximately 24" x 18” from a single batch of dough.

3. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Spread the melted butter evenly over the rectangle of dough using a rubber spatula, being sure to get all the way to the edge.

4. Top with a layer of brown sugar. Drop handfuls on and then sweep the sugar by hand to spread it out, resulting in a continuous layer over the full surface. Light brown sugar recommended.

5. Sprinkle with ground cinnamon. Start at one corner and sprinkle back and forth until reaching the opposite corner, then go back and fill in any "light" spots.

   (Optional) Add chopped walnuts and/or raisins.

6. Using your hands and starting at a convenient corner of the dough, lightly flip the edge up and over, continuing this motion the full 24” length of your rectangle. Once you reach the other end, reverse direction and roll the flipped edge under. As you go back and forth along the edge of the dough, your hands will quickly turn the rectangle of dough into a 24” long tube. To prevent the centers from "popping" when baking, be careful not to stretch the dough while rolling it up, simply coax it into a tube as if the dough were not elastic.

7. Mark the dough using a serrated knife to score the spot where it will be cut. Brenda uses a ruler for precise 2” tall rolls. To estimate 12 equal rolls, mark half, then half of each half, and then thirds of each quarter - 11 marks that result in 12 spirals when cut.

8. Use non-flavored dental floss (or a length of thread) to cut into individual rolls. Slide the floss under the long tube of dough to the first mark. Bring the two ends up over the top, cross, and pull tightly together - the dough will cut into a perfect swirl.

9. Place the rolls on a greased baking sheet. Brenda uses a roaster pan that is about 16" x 12" x 2.25" in order to make 2” tall cinnamon rolls stay within the pan and not hang over the edge. Brenda puts 12 rolls (4 rows of 3) in that pan, carefully placed so that each has maximum space to expand to their baked size of 4" square. If you don't have access to a similar pan, Brenda suggests a sheet pan with 2" sides or use a regular 13" x 9" as they generally have 2" sides.

10. Let rise for 40-50 minutes or until fingerprint stays. Bake 350F for 25-30 minutes. Cool. Frost. Eat.

Recommended Frosting: Cream Cheese Frosting

Dough Recipe: Brenda’s Favorite Dough Recipe

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Window to B’s Kitchen…

1. Flour the surface

2. Roll dough into a large rectangle

3. Spread the melted butter

4. Cover with a layer of brown sugar

5. Sprinkle with cinnamon

6. Roll into a long tube

7. Score the dough with a sharp knife

8. Cut with unflavored dental floss (or strong thread)

. . . . resulting in a beautiful swirl

9. Cut rolls and space evenly in the baking dish

10. Let rest 40-50 minutes then bake at 350F for 25-30 minutes

Cream Cheese Frosting

BOOKMARK THIS. You’ll thank me later. This fluffy, creamy goodness is what Brenda uses on a few of her Fan Favorite recipes:

• Pumpkin Brownies

• Cinnamon Rolls

• Carrot Cake

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Cream Cheese Frosting

Add to bowl or stand mixer:

1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese, softened 

1 cube (4 oz) butter, softened 

Mix until combined, then add:

1 tsp vanilla 

1 lb powdered sugar

Stir until fully incorporated. Scrape bowl sides. Whip until fluffy, 3-4 minutes. Use immediately.

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Brenda’s Tips:

Serving Size: one batch will frost: 

• one 3 tier cake 

• 24-36 cupcakes

• 12-24 cinnamon rolls 

• 3-4 dozen cookies

If possible, Brenda allows cream cheese and butter to naturally reach room temperature for the very smoothest, fluffiest frosting.

Brenda Brownies

I remember at the height of our endurance marathon training (2015) Brenda would bake these brownies at least once per month. She’d eat the whole pan. NO LIE.

I’m still trying to perfect these brownies. The true test is to see if the brownies taste better over time, just like Brenda’s. She swears that day 4 is the best day to consume these brownies. I just can’t figure out how to keep these brownies around for that long…

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Brenda Brownies

To your favorite mixing bowl add:

2 cups sugar

1/2 cup cocoa

Stir well, then cream in:

1 cup butter, softened

Next add:

1 tsp vanilla 

1 tsp salt 

4 eggs, mixing well after each

Finally, stirring until just incorporated, add:

2 cups flour 

Set oven to 350F. Spoon about half the batter into a greased 13x9 pan, sprinkle with:

3/4 cup miniature marshmallows

1/4 cup chocolate chips

Spoon and smooth the remaining batter evenly over the top.

Bake for 22-27 minutes. Serve cooled. 

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Brenda’s Tips:

• Stirring the cocoa into the sugar allows the granules to eliminate any lumps of cocoa, enhancing the texture of the finished brownies

• If baking at sea level, reduce the flour to 1 1/2 cups

• Recommended to use a metal pan. Using glass will cause the brownies to cook differently

• These brownies are Brenda’s favorite dessert that she makes

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Window to B’s Kitchen…

Brenda Cookies

Meet the pinnacle of all Brenda Food:

THE BRENDA COOKIE.

Taking America’s Test Kitchen and New York Time’s Best Chocolate Chip Cookie recipes and making her own version, the Brenda Cookie was born. After 2 years of perfecting the recipe, she shared it with the world.

These cookies have brought so much JOY to thousands of people from coast to coast. Like, when I heard Marie Kondo talk about items that “spark joy” I thought of these cookies.

The smell. The taste. The layers of chocolate. The gooey centers. The crunchy edges. Mama mia!

Read the full Brenda Cookie Story, or make a half-batch!

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The Brenda Cookie

Cream together, mixing for approximately 5 minutes:

1 cup (9 oz) brown sugar

1 cup (8 oz) sugar

1 1/4 cup (10 oz) butter, softened 

Then add, stirring until smooth:

2 eggs

2 tsp vanilla 

Sift dry ingredients together and fold into the above mixture:

3 1/2 cups (17 oz) flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp coarse salt

Just before the dry ingredients are fully incorporated, add:

1 pkg (10 oz) Ghirardelli 60% Cacao Chips

Do not overmix!

Portion by scooping equal sized dough balls onto a greased 13x9. Cover and refrigerate 24-72 hours.

Bake at 370F for 8-10 minutes, adding 5 minutes for extra-large cookies. 

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Brenda’s Tips:

• Serving Size: Brenda’s 1/2 cup cookie scoop makes 18 or 19 balls of dough per batch

• Brenda uses a stand mixer to make the cookies. She starts the butter and sugar creaming and then measures out all the other ingredients while waiting for the sugars and butter to whip. 

• Resting the dough allows the flavors to fully meld and the textures to develop. This cookie has a chewy bite with just the right combination of intense dark chocolate and caramelized butter. It will taste good immediately, but if you can be patient it will be even better.

• Brenda seldom recommends a brand, but you’ll notice that Ghirardeli 60% Cacao are listed. These chips will create the flat layers of intense chocolate that indicates a true Brenda Cookie.

• At high elevations, add more flour. At the farm (2600 ft), Brenda uses 17.5 oz of flour and at home (6200 ft) Brenda uses 18.5 oz

• Let the cookies rest 3-6 hours before serving or packaging. A properly prepared Brenda Cookie will stay soft internally without being stored in an airtight container.

• Don’t want to make a full batch? Here’s the half-batch recipe.

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Window to B’s Kitchen…

Creaming butter + sugar:

Incorporating flour:

Mixing in the chocolate chips:

Scooping the dough: