Katharine Hepburn’s Famous Brownie Recipe

It’s Katharine Hepburn’s birthday this weekend making it time to remember the legendary actress. Aside from a record number of Oscars - four - as well as starring in beloved films such as “Philadelphia Story,” “The African Queen,” “Lion in Winter” and “Woman of the Year,” she’s also known for her yummy brownie recipe. As she drawled in her crisp Connecticut accent, one must use “less flour” and “unsalted butter” and of course keep it simple. Here courtesy of History Kitchen and the New York Times, we at doyouremember.com are sharing Hepburn's recipe created by “positively the best brownie maker in the world.” So if one was to “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” at Hepburn’s house before she died in 2003, that would have been a challenge. But you know what the self-described chocoholic would have served for dessert. This brownie recipe that foodies around the globe still respect and admire. Some things are just good forever. The Recipe- The Recipe- Ingredients: ½ cup cocoa or 2 squares (2 oz.) unsweetened baker's chocolate 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter 1 cup sugar 2 eggs 1/4 cup flour 1 teaspoon vanilla Pinch of salt 1 cup roughly chopped walnuts or pecans Directions: Melt butter with the cocoa or chocolate together in a heavy saucepan over medium low, whisking constantly till blended. Remove from heat and stir in the sugar. Whisk in the eggs and vanilla. Stir in flour, salt and walnuts. Mix well. Pour into a well buttered 8-inch square baking pan. Bake at 325 degrees for about 40 minutes till a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely and cut into squares. These brownies are very fudgy and may be somewhat difficult to slice cleanly; use a sharp knife and a spatula to help them loosen from the baking dish. PBS’ History Kitchen also shared the story behind this recipe. It was published as part of a profile on Hepburn in the Ladies’ Home Journal in August 1975. However, many believe the following story is its true origin of its popularity which was part of an anecdote published in a letter to the editor of the New York Times. According to PBS, in the early 1980s, the writer of the letter had been thinking of dropping out of women’s liberal arts college Bryn Mawr. Knowing that his neighbor Katharine Hepburn had attended the school, her concerned father wrote the star a note imploring her to talk some sense into his daughter since he couldn’t. At 7.30 a.m. the next morning, the daughter awoke to the voice of none other than Katharine Hepburn, who proceeded to lecture her on the importance of staying in school. The reprimand was followed up by an invitation to come over for tea and brownies. Hepburn later shared her beloved brownie recipe with father and daughter, adding some crucial culinary advice: “Don’t over-bake them! They should be moist, not cakey!” Turns out that this recipe not only helped convince this girl to continue in college but was also an effective strategy to sweeten deals she made with directors as well. Tips/Techniques: You will also need a 8x8 inch baking dish. Click "Next" for more. Some fun facts about Katharine Hepburn: She graduated from Bryn Mawr College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania in 1928, with a degree in history and philosophy. She strolled around the studio in her underwear in the early 1930s after the costume department stole her slacks from her dressing room. She refused to wear anything else on until her slacks were returned. She had a relationship with Spencer Tracey from 1943 until he passed away in 1967. She was a natural red head. She did all her own stunts because the stunt woman could never stand up straight enough. She was known for being an an avid athlete. She played golf, tennis and swam. She was also famous for taking cold showers and for casually riding her bicycle around Manhattan. Do you know any other fun facts about Katharine Hepburn?