I Tested Famous Celebrity Brownie Recipes And Found The Best One (2024)

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Brownies are the ultimate dessert. So, in an attempt to find the absolute best, I decided to test four popular recipes: Here are their methods and how they stacked up: First up was Gordon Ramsay. He starts by beating sugar and butter together until fluffy. Add melted chocolate to that — along with flour, salt, vanilla extract, cocoa powder, and eggs. Fold in a ton of dried cherries and pop it in the oven. So, were these over-the-top brownies any good? Up next, I took a trip to Flavor Town with Guy Fieri's Mexican rhubarb chocolate chunk brownies. Let that cool, then cream butter and sugar together along with some eggs. So, was this a pleasant experience, or just a bad trip? Up next was Ayesha Curry with her horchata brownies. She starts by melting down chocolate and butter. Fold in slivered almonds, then pop it in the oven. So, are horchata and brownies the perfect fusion of flavors — or was it more confusion? And last but not least it was time for me to ~bake it like Beckham~. She starts by stirring together melted butter, sugar, and cocoa powder. Add flour, baking powder, and salt, then stir until it's completely smooth. So, were these some posh brownies or what? SO WHO WON? TL;DR: If you want super fudgy brownies (and love horchata), go with Ayesha Curry's cinnamon-spiced recipe. If you're feeling wild (and want to take a trip to ~Flavor Town~), go with Guy Fieri's unexpected rhubarb-chili creation. Check out the entire taste test below: Previous recipe showdowns: What ultimate recipes should we test next? Let us know in the comments below! FAQs

    Spoiler: Guy Fieri's recipe is WAY better than Gordon's. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

    by Jesse SzewczykBuzzFeed Staff
    I Tested Famous Celebrity Brownie Recipes And Found The Best One (2)

    Alice Yoo / BuzzFeed

    Brownies are the ultimate dessert.

    Fox

    They're fudgy, decadent, and the go-to treat for everything from kids' sleepovers to neighborhood bake sales to office parties. But not all brownie recipes are created equal.

    So, in an attempt to find the absolute best, I decided to test four popular recipes:

    I Tested Famous Celebrity Brownie Recipes And Found The Best One (3)

    Alice Yoo / BuzzFeed

    This was my lineup:

    1. Gordon Ramsay: Because everything Gordon makes is delicious — it's a known fact! But his recipe contained a bunch of extras (like dried cherries and Pop Rocks), so I was a bit skeptical.

    2. Guy Fieri: Because his Mexican rhubarb chocolate brownies sounded like they would take me on a serious trip to Flavor Town — for better or worse.

    3. Ayesha Curry: Because her horchata brownies made with almonds, cinnamon, and rice milk seemed like something I (a serious horchata lover) would be into.

    4. Victoria Beckham: Because her recipe seemed simple, classic, and safe — and I really just wanted an excuse to say "bake it like Beckham."

    Here are their methods and how they stacked up:

    First up was Gordon Ramsay. He starts by beating sugar and butter together until fluffy.

    Add melted chocolate to that — along with flour, salt, vanilla extract, cocoa powder, and eggs. Fold in a ton of dried cherries and pop it in the oven.

    Ade Mangum / BuzzFeed

    Once cooled, sprinkle with "popping candy and edible glitter or sprinkles." (Gordon's words, not mine!)

    So, were these over-the-top brownies any good?

    I Tested Famous Celebrity Brownie Recipes And Found The Best One (4)

    Taylor Miller / BuzzFeed

    Ehh. I didn't mind the Pop Rocks, but what I didn't like were the cherries. There were just way too many of them and it took away from the rich, chocolatey flavor. It was basically just dried cherries held together with a tiiiiny bit of brownie batter — which is NOT what I wanted. I guess if you love dried cherries you may like this recipe, but it just didn't work for me.

    Rating: 🍫🍫

    Get Gordon Ramsay's brownie recipe.

    Up next, I took a trip to Flavor Town with Guy Fieri's Mexican rhubarb chocolate chunk brownies.

    Jesse Szewczyk/BuzzFeed, Scott Gries / Getty Images

    He starts by making a homemade compote with rhubarb, water, and sugar. You basically just combine them all in a pot and let them cook down.

    Let that cool, then cream butter and sugar together along with some eggs.

    Ade Mangum / BuzzFeed

    Add the rhubarb compote, melted chocolate, and your dry ingredients (including an aggressive amount of chili powder). Mix in some chunks of chocolate and walnuts, then let it bake.

    So, was this a pleasant experience, or just a bad trip?

    I Tested Famous Celebrity Brownie Recipes And Found The Best One (5)

    Taylor Miller / BuzzFeed

    HECK YEAH BATMAN, IT WAS GOOD!! (Sorry — just channeling my inner Guy.) These brownies were surprisingly delicious, and the chili powder was super subtle and added just the tiniest bit of heat. The rhubarb not only gave them a nice tart flavor, but it made them super fudgy and kept them moist. I'll admit, the recipe seemed super strange, but it was actually delicious. I'm a fan. 🔥

    Rating: 🍫🍫🍫🍫

    Get Guy Fieri's brownie recipe.

    Up next was Ayesha Curry with her horchata brownies. She starts by melting down chocolate and butter.

    Monica Schipper, Jesse Szewczyk/BuzzFeed

    Add eggs and vanilla extract — then flour, cinnamon, and salt.

    Fold in slivered almonds, then pop it in the oven.

    Ade Mangum/BuzzFeed

    As it bakes, make a simple glaze with rice milk, cinnamon, rum, and powdered sugar. Once the brownies are cooled, pour it over and let it set.

    So, are horchata and brownies the perfect fusion of flavors — or was it more confusion?

    I Tested Famous Celebrity Brownie Recipes And Found The Best One (6)

    Taylor Miller / BuzzFeed

    These were a perfect flavor fusion — they were legit so good! The subtle almond flavor and pleasant warmth of the cinnamon made it taste like a delicious holiday treat. It was rich, warming, and intensely chocolaty. The glaze was a tad too sweet for me, but I really didn't mind it because they were just that good. Tens, tens across the board for these babies!

    Rating: 🍫🍫🍫🍫

    Get Ayesha Curry's brownie recipe.

    And last but not least it was time for me to ~bake it like Beckham~. She starts by stirring together melted butter, sugar, and cocoa powder.

    Andrew H. Walker / Getty Images, Jesse Szewczyk/BuzzFeed

    Then add eggs and vanilla.

    Add flour, baking powder, and salt, then stir until it's completely smooth.

    Ade Mangum/BuzzFeed, Ade Mangum / BuzzFeed

    Transfer to a pan and bake — it's that easy!

    So, were these some posh brownies or what?

    I Tested Famous Celebrity Brownie Recipes And Found The Best One (7)

    Taylor Miller / BuzzFeed

    TBH, they were not. They certainly weren't bad, but they were super cakey and a tad too dry. They looked really beautiful — like a textbook brownie — but the flavor and texture just didn't wow me. Maybe a little ~spice~ would have helped them?

    Rating: 🍫🍫

    Get Victoria Beckham's brownie recipe.

    SO WHO WON?

    I Tested Famous Celebrity Brownie Recipes And Found The Best One (8)

    Alice Yoo / BuzzFeed

    THE WINNER: Ayesha Curry

    These horchata brownies were fudgy, rich, and loaded with chocolate. The cinnamon and almonds gave them a ton of flavor and took things to a whole new level. Would 100% make again. Get the recipe.

    SECOND PLACE: Guy Fieri

    Although I was skeptical about these, they actually turned out to be pretty darn good. The rhubarb and chili powder gave them a pop of unexpected flavor that wasn't overwhelming — and it also kept them super moist. Get the recipe.

    THIRD PLACE: Gordon Ramsay

    These brownies were a bit of a hot mess. They had a lot going on and looked kinda like a child's project. The brownie batter itself was delicious, but the dried cherries were overpowering and there were too many of them. Get the recipe.

    FOURTH PLACE: Victoria Beckham

    These brownies weren't bad, they just weren't very good. The texture was too cakey, and they were too dry for my taste. Although I did like the aggressive salt level, the chocolate flavor was too weak and just didn't cut it for me. Get the recipe.

    TL;DR: If you want super fudgy brownies (and love horchata), go with Ayesha Curry's cinnamon-spiced recipe. If you're feeling wild (and want to take a trip to ~Flavor Town~), go with Guy Fieri's unexpected rhubarb-chili creation.

    Check out the entire taste test below:

    View this video on YouTube

    Previous recipe showdowns:

    The Ultimate Mashed Potato Recipe
    The Ultimate Scrambled Egg Recipe
    The Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
    The Ultimate Stuffing Recipe
    The Ultimate Pancake Recipe
    The Ultimate Guacamole Recipe
    The Ultimate Omelet Recipe
    The Ultimate Mac 'N' Cheese Showdown

    What ultimate recipes should we test next? Let us know in the comments below!

    I Tested Famous Celebrity Brownie Recipes And Found The Best One (2024)

    FAQs

    What is the best chewy brownie mix? ›

    If you like chewy, sticky brownies, I recommend: Betty Crocker Dark Chocolate Brownie Mix. If you like light, less dense brownies with a picture-perfect sugar top that flakes when sliced, I recommend: Duncan Hines Chewy Fudge Brownie Mix.

    Who made the first brownie? ›

    The Invention of a Sweet Confection

    Specifically at the direction of Bertha Palmer to be served at the Columbian Exposition World's Fair in 1893, the brownie was created in the Palmer House Kitchen in the late 19th century.

    How did the food brownies get their name? ›

    Brownies are thought to be of US origin, the name derived from their color (brown) and from the mythical pixie-like characters common in children's stories from the same time period. One story suggests that brownies were invented at the Palmer House in Chicago in 1892.

    What is the number 1 brownie mix? ›

    Best Overall Brownie Mix: Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Premium Brownie Mix. When you want a delicious brownie for a baking emergency—or just to treat yourself—look no further than a box of Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Brownies.

    How to jazz up boxed brownies? ›

    Add nuts – Add a handful of finely chopped pecans or walnuts if you love brownies with nuts. Add mix ins – Jazz up a basic brownie mix with chopped mini peanut butter cups, white chocolate chunks, or your favorite chopped up candy bar. Add a swirl – Swirl in spoonfuls of peanut butter or Nutella before baking.

    What did brownies used to be called? ›

    Brownies were originally called Rosebuds and were founded by Lord Baden-Powell after the younger sisters of the Guides and Scouts showed an interest in joining the Guide Association. The Girl Guides Gazette said that Rosebuds wore a dark blue skirt, knitted jersey, cap or tam and the Rosebud Brooch.

    What did they rename brownies? ›

    11, the organization announced Brownies will now be called Embers. Embers is the program for seven and eight-year-old girls. Parents whose kids are in Girl Guides received an email explaining the change.

    Which country invented brownies? ›

    The brownie was developed in the United States at the end of the 19th century and popularized there during the first half of the 20th century.

    What is a brownie fairy? ›

    brownie, in English and Scottish folklore, a small, industrious fairy or hobgoblin believed to inhabit houses and barns. Rarely seen, he was often heard at night, cleaning and doing housework; he also sometimes mischievously disarranged rooms.

    What is a fun fact about brownies? ›

    The first officially documented brownies were made in Chicago for a ladies' fair luncheon in the late 1800s. The event chefs were asked to invent a new dessert that could be included in the boxed lunches at the events. These brownies were decorated with an apricot glaze and a layer of walnuts.

    Why are they called blonde brownies? ›

    They're called blondies because they lack the brown cocoa powder of brownies. They're blonde with vanilla and brown sugar, not brown.

    How do I make box brownies chewy? ›

    For the fudgiest brownie possible, swap all of the recommended water for milk — the extra fat will thicken the batter. If you'd prefer to mix the two for a still-chewy brownie that isn't overly chewy, add an equal milk-to-water ratio to brownie mix.

    Are Ghirardelli brownies chewy or fudgy? ›

    Ghirardelli's brownies weren't too sweet and had a denser, more fudgelike texture. They had the most intense flavor of the bunch, which I think came from the chocolate chips and the darker chocolate used in the batter. These were also fudgy, which is my personal preference for a brownie.

    Are Duncan Hines or Betty Crocker brownies better? ›

    For those looking for light and cakey brownies, Duncan Hines is likely the mix for you, while Pillsbury or Betty Crocker's mixes are better for fudge fans.

    What is the difference between chewy and fudgy brownies? ›

    Fudgy brownies are moist, dense and gooey, with almost the texture of fudge, but not quite as compact. Chewy brownies are dense (like fudgy brownies), but have a little more “bite” to them or elastic texture when you chew them.

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