Easy Breeze Brownies

My Grammy bakes these all the time for events. If she wants to do more than just a pound cake then she will make these because of how quick they are to bake.

You are going to want all your stuff out ready.

• Find a 11x15 pan.

• Set your oven to 400 degrees.

• Have a bottle of no-stick spray
  

Ingredients for the cake:

• a stick of butter

• ½ cup of shortening

• 4 tablespoons of cocoa

• 1 cup of hot water

• 2 cups of all-purpose flour

• 2 cups of sugar

• ½ cup of buttermilk

• 1 tablespoon of baking soda

• 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract

• 2 eggs

What you need for the icing:

• 1 stick of butter

• 2 cups of powdered sugar

• 4 tablespoons of cocoa

• 8 tablespoons of evaporated milk

• 1 tablespoon of vanilla

1. Melt a stick of butter in a pot then add ½ cup of shortening, 4 tablespoons of cocoa, and the cup of hot water.

2. Turn on the stove and mix it. When everything is ready, add 2 cups of all-purpose flower, 2 cups of sugar.

3. Put the ½ cup of buttermilk and the 1 tablespoon of baking soda together then add it.

4. Turn off the stove, put in one tablespoon of vanilla extract, and the 2 eggs (make sure the pot is not too hot otherwise you will have scrambled eggs) then mix again.

5. Grease up the 11x15 pan and pour in the mixture. Bake on the middle shelf at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.

6. While cake is baking make the icing.

7. Melt one stick of butter.

8. Add the 2 cups of powdered sugar, 4 tablespoons of cocoa, 8 tablespoons of evaporated milk, 1 tablespoon of vanilla and mix. You can add your favorite nuts if you want.

9. Spread the icing on the cake while the cake is still hot.

History of Brownies:

The beloved brownie is believed to have originated in the late 1890s, with one popular legend attributing its creation to Bertha Palmer, a prominent Chicago socialite. As the story goes, Palmer requested a dessert that was both portable and suitable for ladies attending the Chicago World's Columbian Exposition of 1893. In response to her request, a pastry chef at the Palmer House Hotel created the first brownie, a rich and chocolatey treat that quickly gained popularity.

While the brownie made its debut in a few cookbooks across the United States shortly thereafter, it did not achieve widespread popularity until the 1920s. This surge in popularity can be attributed to the increasing availability and affordability of chocolate during that time. As chocolate became more accessible, brownies became a staple in American baking, beloved for their fudgy texture and versatility in recipes.