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Home » Brownies that are Fudgy

Droste Brownies Recipe

Last updated on August 9, 2023 By Anna 2 Comments This post may contain affiliate links.

Growing up in Texas, our usual cocoa powder was natural style Hershey's. To get Dutch processed cocoa, we'd have to go to a specialty grocer where Droste was the only offering. I don't recall using it in anything back then, but I know it had a loyal following because there are so many requests for the Droste Brownies recipe, which was supposedly printed on the box. I haven't found any pictures of old boxes with the recipe, but I did try the version that's floating around.

Droste Brownies Recipe

Simple and Unique

What's interesting about the Internet's Droste brownie recipe is it calls for only 2 tablespoons of a cocoa powder, a full cup of brown sugar, 4 tablespoons butter and a small amount of sifted cake flour. It's easy and tempting enough to throw together even when you're tired. The brown sugar (in its abundance) makes the brownies very chewy and sweet. It also makes them hard to stop eating, which is why I've vowed to never make this recipe again. Well, until I make it again.

Brown Sugar in Brownies

The brown sugar in the Droste Brownies makes them special. There's one full cup, and you can't really reduce it because it's the main ingredient and it's what gives the brownies their super chewy texture. To balance it, there's salted butter or salt. You'll also want to add a whole lot of nuts. I use walnuts, but pecans would be good too. I would say that if you don't like nuts, find a new recipe because with all of the brown sugar and nuts, these are more like brown sugar chocolate nut chews than traditional brownies. They're like a deep chocolate version of Charleston Chewies.

Where to Find Droste

Droste is easy to find online, and here in the USA you can usually pick up a box at World Market. I'm not sure where you'd find it in other parts of the world, but I imagine it to be a grocery store staple in certain parts of Europe. Either way, it's worth seeking out a box. You can make the brownies with other brands of Dutch, and I have done so a few times, but they're a little different when made with the Droste.

Droste Effect

By the way, the Droste box inspired the term "Droste Effect". It's a term used for a picture that includes a smaller picture of itself within the image, like the nurse on the cocoa box holding a box of cocoa with the same picture of herself with the cocoa box. I was fascinated with this as a kid, thinking about the repeating picture of a picture getting smaller and smaller. Now I know there's a word for it.

Droste Brownies from an old Droste cocoa powder box.
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Recipe

Droste Brownies Recipe

Droste Brownies Recipe

Anna
Very chewy and intensely chocolate brownies even with only 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder!
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 30 minutes mins
Total Time 40 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12

Ingredients
 

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (56 grams)
  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder (12 grams)
  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed (210 grams)
  • 1 large egg
  • ¼ teaspoon salt (you can omit if using salted butter)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup sifted cake flour or ⅓ cup all-purpose (45 grams)**
  • 1 cup walnut pieces or other nuts optional
  • ⅓ cup semisweet chocolate chunks or chips

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease an 8-inch metal or glass pan and line bottom with a piece of parchment paper.
  • In a mixing bowl or a saucepan, whisk together all of the ingredients. You can do it in any order. I do it this way: Melt the butter in a saucepan, add the cocoa powder and stir until smooth, then add the brown sugar. Stir until smooth, then add the egg and vanilla. Stir, then stir in the flour. Once that's absorbed, stir in half the nuts.
  • Spread the mixture evenly in the pan. Sprinkle remaining nuts and the chocolate chips on top.. Bake for aboutt 23 minutes at 325F.

Notes

Feel free to use ½ cup cake flour, sifted (60 grams).  I'm still not sure what the correct measurement is, but I've been using ½ cup sifted cake flour (45 grams) or ⅓ cup unsifted AP.
Keyword brownies

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    I love hearing from other bakers and appreciate helpful comments. Rude ones will be deleted immediately.

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  1. Sue

    August 10, 2023 at 9:03 pm

    5 stars
    This recipe comes together in a snap. They are definitely sweet and chewy and you’re right to say don’t leave out the nuts.

  2. Sue

    August 09, 2023 at 2:10 pm

    Oh!!!! I should try these! My husband loves brownies. Our high end grocery store carries Droste cocoa. I used to buy it regularly to make hot chocolate. It is definitely the hot cocoa of my kid’s childhood.
    I love the the note about the history of the Droste effect!

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