The Best Katharine Hepburn Brownies Recipe

This Katharine Hepburn brownies recipe is super quick and simple to make, plus it tastes delicious. If you’re looking for a way to make fudgy, dessert-like brownies at home then you must try this recipe. It’s an easy brownie recipe using just a few ingredients and it’s also a convenient one-dish brownie recipe – it really couldn’t be faster or easier to make. Once you’ve tried this recipe, I’m sure it will be become one of your go-to favorites!

Why Are They Called Katharine Hepburn Brownies?

Katharine Hepburn brownies are a well known and much loved chocolate brownie recipe. This recipe is often attributed to the actress Katharine Hepburn and became increasingly popular after her death. These brownies are said to be Katharine Hepburn’s favorite brownie recipe and ever since this recipe was first revealed publicly, it has been featured in many cook books, on cooking shows and all over the media. 

Want to make a vegan version of this recipe? Check out this vegan Katharine Hepburn recipe here.

What Makes Katharine Hepburn Brownies So Good?

What makes Katharine Hepburn brownies so good is that they use less flour and more cocoa powder than regular brownies, making them fudgy, rich and moist. Many other brownie recipes use more flour, which gives them a cake-like texture. This chocolate brownie recipe is quick to make and everything is mixed together and prepared in one mixing bowl, unlike other recipes which require multiple kitchen utensils and pans. The extra cocoa powder or chocolate gives them a rich flavor too. Overall they’re incredibly simple to make but taste luxurious, which is why this recipe is so popular. 

Katharine Hepburn Brownies Story

Although Katharine Hepburn never officially published this recipe or took credit for her way of making brownies, it is a genuine recipe that originates from her own kitchen. The story of how Katharine Hepburn brownies became so famous starts in the 1980s when the actress was recovering from a car accident. While at home recovering, a neighbour brought brownies to her home. After tasting the brownies the neighbour had made for her, Katharine Hepburn replied “too much flour!” and advised the neighbour to use less flour and not to overbake the brownies. This was Katharine Hepburn’s secret to creating moist, fudgy brownies that are not cakey.

Using Chocolate or Cocoa Powder to Make Brownies

The original Katharine Hepburn chocolate brownie recipe states that chocolate should be used to give the brownies their dark, rich color and taste however, many modern recipes use cocoa powder instead of chocolate. You can use either it doesn’t make a lot of difference. Personally, I’ve tried both and the brownies turn out great whichever you decide to use. Below, in the list of ingredients, you will find the exact measurements for using either cocoa powder or chocolate. The same goes for walnuts – adding walnuts is optional but they definitely enhance the texture. So if you want that fudgy, crunchy texture then add the walnuts. 

The Best Katharine Hepburn Brownie Recipe

How to Make Katharine Hepburn’s Favorite Brownies

Here is the exact recipe to make the best Katharine Hepburn chocolate brownies. First you will need to line your baking tin – the baking tin should be either 8×8 inches or no larger than 10 x 8″ inches. Then preheat the oven to 325°F (≈160°C).

1. Melt the butter and stir in the chocolate.
2. Remove from heat and stir in the sugar and eggs.
3. Mix the ingredient well until the chocolate mixture appears smooth and glossy.
4. Add in the salt, flour and walnuts – and stir.
5. Pour the brownie mixture into the baking tin and bake in the oven for approximately 30 minutes at 325°F (≈160°C)
6. Remove from oven, allow to cool and cut into squares. This recipe typically makes 16 small brownie squares.

Other Recipes to Try