Easy Brownies: Oma's or Vegan

by: Gerhild Fulson  / Oma Gerhild shares easy, authentic German recipes you can trust, rooted in family tradition and featured in her cookbooks.

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This easy brownie recipe may just become one of your favorites. It's quick and has an easy frosting recipe.

OR are you looking for a vegan brownie recipe?  

You'll find a delicious one here as well. Even non-vegans like it! The German twist in both? Almond flavoring! And that turns them into Schokoladenschnitten. 

Why do I add that? Well, I just LOVE marzipan and adding almond extract to these brownies is heavenly! 

Which will you like best? Why not try both and choose. What's the best chocolate brownie recipe? These are both if you want to learn how to make brownies, because they are so easy. Wunderbar!

Tips on Brownies ...

There's only one difficult part in making brownies (and not that difficult) and that's the baking.

They need to be removed from the oven when a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out still moist, but not wet with batter.

If you over-bake them, they'll still taste good.

They just won't have that lovely moist texture. They would make great "dunkers" though if you keep them un-iced. (Dunk into a lovely cup of hot coffee.)

You may wonder why these recipes are included on my German recipe site because they are not traditional German recipes.

It's because I love these, 'cause they taste so good!

You may just find either of these is among the best chocolate recipes there are!

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Ready to make these easy Brownies?

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1. Oma's Easy Brownie Recipe

This easy brownie recipe may just become one of your favorites. It's quick and has an easy frosting recipe.

The German twist? Almond flavoring! And that turns them into Schokoladenschnitten. 

Prep Time:

15 minutes

Bake Time:

30 minutes

Total Time:

45 minutes

Servings:

12 pieces

Ingredients:

• ½ cup butter
• ¼ cup cocoa
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• ¾ cup flour, all-purpose
• ½ cup chopped walnuts
• 1 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
• ⅛ teaspoon salt
• 1⅓ cup powdered sugar
• ⅓ cup cocoa
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1½ tablespoons hot coffee

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease an 8x8-inch pan.
2. In a small pot, heat butter and cocoa over low heat, stirring constantly, until smooth.
3. In mixing bowl, beat eggs until frothy. Add sugar, flour, walnuts, almond extract (optional), salt, and cocoa mixture. Stir together well.
4. Spread in prepared pan, smoothing top.
5. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until wooden pick inserted in center comes out moist, not wet, with batter. Do not over-bake.
6. Cool slightly in pan on rack before icing.
7. For icing, beat powdered sugar, cocoa, butter, and coffee until smooth, adding more powdered sugar or coffee as needed until proper consistency is reached.
8. Spread over warm brownies. Cut into squares.

Notes/Hints:

• Sift cocoa and/or powdered sugar if lumpy
• Sprinkle chopped walnuts over top of icing, if desired.
• Using vanilla instead of almond extract will give you a delicious variation on this easy brownie recipe.

*  *  *  *  *

Unless otherwise noted recipe, images and content © Just like Oma | www.quick-german-recipes.com

Ready to make Vegan Brownies?

Print Recipe

2. Delicious Vegan Brownies

Looking for a vegan brownie recipe? Here's one that even non-vegans like it!

The German twist? Almond flavoring! And that turns them into Vegane Schokoladenschnitten. 

Prep Time:

10 minutes

Bake Time:

30 minutes

Total Time:

40 minutes

Servings:

12 pieces

Ingredients:

• ½ cup olive oil
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• ½ cup unsweetened cocoa
• ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1½ cup flour, all-purpose
• 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate (melted)
• 1 cup chopped nuts

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Spray or oil a 9x9-inch pan.
3. Mix everything together in a bowl EXCEPT for the melted chocolate and nuts. Once everything is well mixed, add the chocolate and nuts and mix in well.
4. Pour batter into pan and smooth top.
5. Bake about 25 to 30 minutes or until center is firm and not sticky. 
6. Cool completely before cutting.

*  *  *  *  *

Unless otherwise noted recipe, images and content © Just like Oma | www.quick-german-recipes.com

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Hi, I'm Oma Gerhild! As a food writer and cookbook author, I'm always looking to find ways to pass on my German heritage using local ingredients. Quick and easy. That's my goal. Wunderbar food. That's the result.