One History of the Brownie - Plus the Original Recipe!

Bertha was the wife of Potter Palmer, a wealthy businessman who was very much involved in the development of downtown Chicago. They were introduced by a mutual friend and Potter’s former business partner, Marshall Field (whose department store acquired and popularized Frango chocolate truffles, by the way).

As a wedding gift to his bride, Potter gave Bertha an extraordinary gift — The Palmer House hotel. Under the couples’ ownership, largely directly by Bertha, The Palmer House became the epicenter for entertainment amongst socialites in Chicago and well-heeled travelers worldwide. In 1893, for the World’s Fair: Columbian Exposition, an event that would draw influential people from around the globe, Bertha entertained the notion of creating a small confection that has since become beloved all the world over.

Storytellers say that for the World’s Fair, Bertha asked The Palmer House pastry chef to create a small cake or confection that could be included in boxed lunches for ladies visiting the fair. The pastry chef developed a thick, dense, fudgy chocolate bar, covered in walnuts and a sweet apricot glaze. It was unlike any other confection and became incredibly popular.

Though it still wasn’t called a “brownie,” as similar versions of the dessert later appeared in the Sears Roebuck catalog and in cookbooks by Fannie Farmer and others, its name was given.

More than a century later, you can still enjoy a square of warm chocolate goodness topped with ice cream made with the same recipe used in 1893 at The Palmer House. Or, if you can’t make it to Chicago anytime soon, you can create a batch of brownies yourself using the recipe below, adapted from the original.

The Palmer House Brownie

Adapted from the original recipe found here

Ingredients:

• 14 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
• 1 pound unsalted butter
• 12 ounces granulated sugar
• 4 ounces all-purpose flour
• 8 whole eggs
• 12 ounces crushed walnuts
• Vanilla extract Apricot Glaze (recipe below)

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 300° F.
2. In a double boiler, melt chocolate with butter.
3. In a medium bowl, mix all dry ingredients except walnuts.
4. Pour chocolate into dry ingredients and mix with a spatula for 4 to 5 minutes.
5. Add eggs and vanilla to chocolate mixture and mix to combine. Pour into a 9”x 12” baking sheet, sprinkle walnuts on top and use your fingers to press walnuts down slightly into mixture.
6. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes. When finished baking, the brownies will have risen about ¼ inch and the edges should be a little crispy. Note: Even when properly baked, brownies will test “gooey” with a toothpick in the center due to the richness of the mixture. Remove brownies from oven and allow brownies to cool for about 30 minutes.
7. While brownies cool, work on your Apricot Glaze (recipe below). Once brownies cool, use a brush to spread a thin layer of the Apricot Glaze on top. Cut into squares and serve (highly recommended with a scoop of ice cream).

*Pro Tip: The brownies are easier to cut if you place in the freezer for about 3-4 hours after glazing.

For the Apricot Glaze

Ingredients:

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup apricot preserves
• 1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin

Preparation:

1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, mix together water, preserves and unflavored gelatin.
2. Bring to a boil for two minutes. Use hot.

Want to master brownies and more with Chef Jenny? Click here to learn more about ICE's Pastry & Baking Arts program. 

Recipe

This original recipe is still served at The Palmer House today, and the post provides a step-by-step guide to making the brownies at home, complete with instructions for the apricot glaze that tops them.