Five-Star Brownies

Name: Five-Star Brownies
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 1 dozen.
Ingredients: 3 eggs; 2 cups sugar; 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 1/2 cup butter, melted; 1/4 cup shortening, melted; 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour; 3/4 cup baking cocoa; 3/4 teaspoon salt; 1 cup chopped nuts, optional

There's a bit of my state's history behind these brownies' name and shape. In 1990, when I entered them at our state fair, Kansas was celebrating the 100th birthday of a famous native son, Dwight Eisenhower. In fact, that occasion was the theme of the fair. So I renamed my brownies, in honor of the rank he'd achieved as a general and cut them out with a star cookie cutter. They ended up winning a blue ribbon! —Pam Buerki Rogers, Victoria, Kansas

Ingredients

3 eggs
2 cups sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup shortening, melted
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup baking cocoa
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped nuts, optional

Directions

In a large bowl, beat the eggs, sugar and vanilla until blended. Beat in butter and shortening until smooth. Combine the flour, cocoa and salt; gradually add to egg mixture. Stir in nuts if desired.
Line a 13x9-in. baking pan with foil and grease the foil; pour batter into pan. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack.
Using foil, lift brownies out of pan. Discard foil. Cut brownies with a 3-in. star-shaped cookie cutter or into bars.

Nutrition Facts

1 brownie: 326 calories, 14g fat (6g saturated fat), 67mg cholesterol, 227mg sodium, 49g carbohydrate (34g sugars, 1g fiber), 4g protein.

Originally published as Five Star Brownies in Country Woman July/August 1995

Reviews

My Review

Click stars to rate

Average Rating:

Lauren

Dec 20, 2017

I have been making this exact recipe since I was in the 3rd grade. I have tried others over the years, but I always come back to this one. Perfect little crust on top and nice and moist in the center. Perfect!
Kathleen

May 8, 2017

Best brownies we have ever had! I know my kids will always cherish this recipe! Thank you so much for sharing it!
amsm

Feb 3, 2016

These are rich and chocolatey. They have a nice, moist fudgey texture. I let mine bake for only about 25 minutes, as the toothpick came out clean on mine at that amount of time. I did add mini m&m's to the top of mine after my kids requested to add some.
CherylShumaker

Aug 2, 2015

Absolutely delicious brownies, best homemade recipe I've found yet! I even make them gluten free for my brother's & they still turn out good!
Roommom

Jul 30, 2015

Wonderful!
chocolateformyfour

Sep 30, 2014

These turn out perfectly every time. Have not used another recipe in about 15 years after finding this one.
MOTCook

Jul 20, 2014

I've made these two times. There are never any leftovers!
s_pants

Jun 10, 2014

Used to make brownie sundaes....so good!
NanZim

May 28, 2014

These are dense and fudgy and rich. My declared them 'very chocolately'.
kcrihfield89

May 27, 2014

These are easy and yummy. The only downside is that the dough was a bit thicker than I'm used to and they turned out a bit drier than I like (I like my brownies gooey). Next time I'll try taking them out of the oven at 20-25 minutes.