My daughter recently celebrated her birthday, which reminded me of a little tradition I created for my kids when their birthday landed on a school day.

(This also seemed like the perfect opportunity to share one of my all-time favorite recipes with y’all! Cuz who doesn’t love biting into a sweet, fudgy, chocolate brownie?!) But first, a bit of history & humor surrounding these treats..

This quick, easy & super delicious recipe originally came to my family from some good friends, who, incidentally, also sold us some great horses! I chided my Mom once, when she was upset that I had been sharing the recipe, to remind her that if someone hadn’t shared it with us, then how would we have ever had it to enjoy all this time! It quickly became a family favorite, featured at numerous bake sales, potlucks and meals in the field. I think it’s safe to guess that I’ve made it many hundred times, and often by special request!

Maybe because I LOVE to bake and share and there were many grateful recipients over the years in my small hometown, these became affectionately known as “Deena Brownies”. They brought high bids in charity auctions, and were one of the first things to sell at bake sales.

One of the funniest stories happened at a Pampered Chef party I was invited to, where the host was serving the most delectable fudgy brownies. Of course, I’m always on the hunt for winner recipes to add to my collection and these brownies were fantastic! Thicker than mine and pretty much perfect. When I requested the recipe, Betty, the host, gave me the most baffled and then entirely amused look… as she laughingly explained they’d been made with MY recipe! LOL! Her and her grandson had made them together from the community cookbook I’d shared it to, using a 9”x 9” pan vs the larger size the recipe called for. We had a good laugh about me requesting my own recipe unknowingly. But, I swear, they were better than when I made them! (don’t tell Betty I said that hahaha! Actually, I’m pretty sure I told her that night.) Anyway! I keep sharing the recipe because I know all you marvelous cooks will likely improve on it.

In fact, I recently altered the recipe. It is very much out of character for me to keep using any recipe the way I first find it, even on the initial attempt. But with this recipe, I have continued to use it in it’s original seemingly-perfect format since I started baking them as a kid. So what prompted this improved version, you ask??! Baking with kids again! Every time I baked these with my step-daughter, they turned out better than the original. I was discussing this with my daughter, who suggested that maybe whoever was measuring the cocoa powder was being a little more generous. And that, my friend, solved the mystery! I upped the cocoa powder content and now they’re fudgier - which!!, I suspect may have been the same verdict in the case of Betty’s Better-than-mine Batch of Brownies!!

Now, about that Birthday Brownie Tradition! I started taking a double batch of brownies to school for my kids’ classes on the day of their birthday. It didn’t take long for their classmates to devour the tray full of chocolate frosted birthday brownies (complete with sprinkles of course!) and the teachers were always glad I showed up too. Everyone looked forward to it. Or at least my kids never admitted to being embarrassed by my appearance, even through high school. In fact, I like to think it came off as fairly cool lol.

There’s a funny story from one delivery to my son’s class. The classroom door was open, the teacher leaning up against the front of her desk, which was set well away from the door and the front of the room. She was reading to the grade 10 class. I wasn’t exactly sure how to make my delivery. So, not wanting to interrupt her, I walked in, with this huge tray of brownies, the whole class my amused and appreciative audience, facing me, every one of them playing along with my stealthy-ness. Nobody let on or brought attention to me, except for a few grins as I winked to them and set the brownies silently down on the desk behind her, then made my escape. I later heard the report of how surprised she was when she finished reading and they all exuberantly requested a serving of birthday brownies, that she then discovered had mysteriously appeared right behind her! I apologize for likely causing them to lose interest in the last few paragraphs of her narrative that day haha. 

I have had requests for brownies on many occasions, even for wedding celebrations. These “Deena Brownies” received honorable mention at my daughter’s grad, as part of her introduction by the emcee, (who also mentioned how much she, as her science teacher, had appreciated my daughter sharing “Magic School Bus” lessons - even in high school! But that’s another story, for another day! LOL). When I brought a batch to one friend’s party, I was asked how many pieces it was safe to eat.. it took me a second to catch on before reassuring the guests that there wasn’t anything particularly ‘special’ about these brownies hahaha! But there’s no reason you can’t spice them up a little!

So, here it is. My most requested recipe. I gotta admit, I’m kinda famous for these - now you can be too! May you have many occasions to enjoy these treats & find ways to share them. I guarantee they will be appreciated by taste buds everywhere! Let me know what you think and if you made any adjustments I should try! Here ya go 😊

xo Deena

‘Deena’ Brownies

1 cup margarine, melted

2 cups brown sugar

6 tbsp. cocoa powder

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

1 ½ cups flour

Mix in order given. Don’t over-mix. Bake in greased 9” x 13” cake pan @ 350 x 20 min. or until tests done with a toothpick. Can be doubled in an 11” x 17” jelly roll pan. Frost, dust with icing sugar, drizzle with melted chocolate or serve naked (I mean the brownies, not you! … or whatever!). And don’t forget the sprinkles on special occasions or just because. Freezes well.