This classic brownie recipe, famously attributed to actress Katharine Hepburn, is a beloved example of vintage American baking. Known for her iconic film roles and no-nonsense attitude, Hepburn reportedly shared this recipe as a personal favorite. It embraces simplicity with minimal ingredients, creating dense, fudgy brownies that put modern boxed mixes to shame. The recipe calls for basic pantry staples—unsweetened chocolate, butter, sugar, eggs, and a handful of flour—producing an old-fashioned texture with rich chocolate flavor. Chopped walnuts add a crunchy contrast, making these brownies timelessly irresistible. A delicious bite of Old Hollywood nostalgia!
Ingredients
- 2 oz unsweetened chocolate
- 1/4 lb butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 cup walnuts (chopped (not too fine))
Instructions
Step 1: Melt Chocolate & Butter
- In a saucepan, melt 2 squares of unsweetened chocolate with 1 stick of butter over low heat.
- Remove from heat once fully melted.
Step 2: Add Sugar
- Stir in 1 cup sugar until fully combined.
Step 3: Add Eggs and Vanilla
- Beat in 2 eggs and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla.
- Stir vigorously (“beat like mad”).
Step 4: Add Dry Ingredients
- Mix in 1/4 cup flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
Step 5: Add Nuts
- Fold in 1 cup chopped walnuts (avoid chopping too fine for best texture).
Step 6: Bake
- Pour batter into a greased 8×8 inch baking pan.
- Bake at 325°F (163°C) for 40 minutes.
Step 7: Cool and Serve
- Allow brownies to cool slightly.
- Cut into squares and serve.
Tips
- Substitute pecans for walnuts if preferred.
- Add ½ cup of chocolate chips for extra fudginess.
- For gluten-free: use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend.
- Sprinkle a touch of sea salt on top before baking for a modern twist.
- Store brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
Transcription of the Original Recipe
Read or copy the transcription
2 squares of un sweet Choc. ¼# (1 stick) butter melt in saucepan. Remove from heat stir 1 C. sugar Add 2 eggs & ½ t vanilla Beat like mad. Stir in ¼ c flour ¼ t. salt Cup walnuts chopped (not fine) Bake in greased pan 8 x 8 325° - 40 min Cool for while & cut in squares Kate Hepburn
From Transcription to Instructions
We loved Kate Hepburn’s short original recipe, and we kept the same ingredients and bake time,but we turned those terse lines into our instructions so you don’t have to guess the order. The original leaves “melt… remove… stir sugar… add eggs, beat like mad” as a few quick notes; our instructions spell out removing the pan from heat before you stir in sugar and add the eggs and vanilla, explain “beat like mad” as stirring vigorously, and remind you to fold in the walnuts and pour into a greased 8×8 pan to bake.
Nutrition
Serving: 1squareCalories: 220kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 3gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 40mgSodium: 90mgPotassium: 100mgFiber: 2gSugar: 18gVitamin A: 250IUCalcium: 20mgIron: 1.5mg
