Glorified Brownies

I had a hard time coming up with a name for these brownies.  Killer Brownies?  Anyone with even a hint of high blood sugar would surely end up in an early grave.  So Sickeningly Sweet That You'll Want to Hurl Brownies?  Perhaps making these after coming off of a bout with the flu was not such a good idea.  The real name for this sweet confection is Glorified Brownies and the recipe dates back to the early seventies and probably earlier than that. They did make me the darling of the football team (this was back in the days when the way to a man's heart was truly through his stomach).  Here's the story:

When I was in High school, every fall, we had what were called "Pep Pals."  These were girls who each were assigned a member of the football team for whom they would bake a sweet treat and deliver it anonymously to a specified location for collection later.  The idea here was to spur the team on to football victory through an excess amount of sugar and carbs.  Mystery and chocolate fanatic that I am, I loved the whole cloak-and-dagger aspect of this, so I signed up every year.  This was the treat that I made.  It was easy to prepare, I loved them, everyone I knew loved them, so certainly a football player and his pals would love them too.  They did.  So much so, that, against the rules, my assigned football player bribed the Pep Pal Committee, hunted me down, and showed up on my doorstep late one afternoon with a plea from this mother for the recipe.  Flattered, I handed it over.  Need I say that the football team had a winning season that year?

Yesterday, while rummaging through the pantry, I found a bag of marshmallows, waxed nostalgic about my High School days, and made this batch.  I could hardly wait to dig in. Hmmm.  Sweet.  Very sweet.  Could it be that, in my old age, I'm no longer the sweet eater that I once was?  Dear Lord, am I just moments away from a high fiber/low sodium diet?  Apparently.  In the old days of a flat stomach and buns you could bounce quarters off of, I could eat half a pan of these.  This morning, after pinning up my drooping eyelids so I could see, I ate one and was able to set the rest aside.

So, I'm going to let you decide.  If you have teenagers, you'll probably be crowned queen.  If you live alone with your husband, have some fat free yogurt and call it a day.

Glorified Brownies

1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
3/4 cup sifted flour
1 cup butter divided into 1/2 cups
9T cocoa
1 cup chopped nuts
1/8 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp vanilla flavoring
4 cups powdered sugar
8 T evaporated milk

 Preheat oven to 400° F.

In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream 1 cup sugar and 1/2 cup butter until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, mixing until blended. Add all at once flour, 3 T cocoa, nuts, salt and 1/2 tsp vanilla.  Beat just until blended.

Pour mixture in a greased 8” X 8” and bake for 18 to 25 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

While brownies are baking, cut 15 marshmallows in half; set aside.

In a medium sauce pan over medium-low heat mix remaining ½ cup butter, 6T cocoa and 1 tsp vanilla with 4 cups powdered sugar and 8T evaporated milk to make topping. Stir until butter melts and topping is smooth.

When brownies are done, cover with cut marshmallows and pour chocolate topping over all.

Cool before serving. Best when made a day ahead.

This post is linked to:

Foodie Friday

Sweets for a Saturday