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Plan Z Phase: This is a ZReboot 3.5 (ZReboot 3.5) recipe

I found this recipe in some historical information I received. Since I love brownies and my family history has some connection to the Palmer House, I thought I’d get this typed up and shared. I did convert it so it’s Zolafied. This is a VERY old recipe… in fact, this is the FIRST recipe for brownies. Brownies were first invented at The Palmer House Hotel in 1893. So these won’t be like the ones in a box mix. These are denser. And they are less sweet than what we are familiar with today. But we can all adapt… and appreciate the original. I hope you’ll try them.

Servings: Makes about 20 brownies. 1 serving per person

Ingredients:

• 7 oz of dark chocolate. Use 70% cacao or even a bit higher
• 8 oz (2 sticks) of butter cut into small pieces
• ½ cup of ZSweet. (Order online. Important you use this or Swerve. They bake well and don’t taste tinny). If your family likes SWEET you can start them off by using ¾ cup and then try to cut them back.
• 4 eggs
• ¼ cup of flour (you are spreading this small amount over a whole pan of brownies so it’s not much)
• 1-2 tsp of vanilla (I love extra vanilla)
• ½ cup of chopped walnuts

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Melt the dark chocolate. I use a double boiler but if you’re good with a microwave you can melt it that way. Add the butter bits to the hot chocolate so they melt. Stir to mix them in and the butter will melt fast. Set aside to cool for a few minutes.

In a bowl, add the ZSweet, and flour. Mix. Add the chocolate and stir for 4 – 5 minutes. (They didn’t use a mixer in those days and this actually works better).

Add the eggs and vanilla to the chocolate mixture. Stir to combine.

Spray a 9 X 13” baking pan.

Pour the brownie mixture into the pan.
Sprinkle your walnut bits on top.

Bake at 350 for about 25-30 minutes. Look for a bit of crust to have formed along the edges. If you want to follow the old directions you’ll now turn off the oven and let them sit in the oven for 10 more minutes (optional).

Let cool on the counter and cut to serve.

Another tidbit of history…. In the old days, they melted apricot jam in hot water to make a glaze. They’d glaze the brownies so they would not spoil so fast. We have refrigeration and air-conditioned houses so I left this step off. I serve these unfrosted. If you want to frost them… check out my French Ganache recipe. Make a batch of that and spread it while it’s fairly warm so it’s sort of runny. As the frosting cools it will become firmer. Store brownies in the fridge if you frost them. If you do not frost them you can just cover the pan with foil.

Enjoy!

Cheers,