There is a story behind these gingerbread men shaped brownies, but I’ll get to that in a bit. I loved these brownies – I found they were pretty basic brownies with a nice, rich chocolate flavor. I love adding cinnamon to chocolate goods. I didn’t add any nuts, since I was sharing these with a crowd and wasn’t sure if anybody would have a nut allergy – but I do generally love walnuts in my brownies. As you can see, I baked most my brownies (not all of them are pictured above) in a mini cupcake pan, and then I had a bit of leftover batter, so I used a gingerbread man pan to finish it off.
Two of my best friends sent me a Williams & Sonoma gingerbread man cakelet pan for my birthday in early December – but it got lost in the mail and I didn’t end up receiving it until the beginning of February. So, of course the pan missed Christmas (but there’s always next year!). I have been meaning to use it though, just so I could take a picture of something baked out of it to send to my friends, so I was actually delighted to have some leftover batter after filling my 36-mini muffin pan. I simply sprayed the mini muffin pan and the gingerbread man pan with nonstick cooking spray, and all the brownies came out cleanly. It was nice not to have to worry about lining a pan!
There are so many brownie recipes out there – kind of like chocolate chip cookies. I don’t have a standard recipe that is a favorite yet. I also liked Dorie’s French Chocolate brownies, which I tried about a year ago. While these were certainly good, I’m not sure it would be my standard, staple brownie recipe. Who has a good one, that they like to go back to and rely on?
A few people from the group I shared these brownies with could immediately tell that the brownies were homemade. I haven’t used a boxed brownie mix in many years, though they were the standard fare when I was growing up! I think making brownies from scratch is always worth the extra work though.
Anyhow, visit Tuesdays with Dorie for more Tribute to Katherine Hepburn brownies – and Lisa of Surviving Oz for the recipe!
So adorable! We really liked this recipe – I used less coffee and only a pinch of cinnamon. I think it will be my go-to recipe for at least a while.
Well done!
What a great idea to make brownie bites, and the ones you made in your gingerbread mold are adorable! This one was a big hit here, but my go to recipe (until now!) has been the triple chocolate brownies from Gourmet (I think you can also find them on the Food Network site since Sara Moulton made them on Cooking Live).
Those are the coolest gingerbread brownie men ever!!! They look awesome!
Too cute. I love little brownies. I always see the box of them at Costco and I have to force myself to pass them by. Homemade little brownies are even better. Love the gingerbread man.
What a great idea – am I a bad person for wanting to bite a gingerbrownie man’s head off? I actually tried the KH brownies about 2 years ago, reducing the nuts. I remember liking them but I lean toward chewier, sturdier brownies. My go to recipe is basically this one plus a lil instant coffee powder: http://www.recipezaar.com/Chewy-Cocoa-Brownies-13729 . It’s fairly quick, cheap, and easy. Hope you’re enjoying your new location!
WOW, your brownie men look so perfect. Did you know that there is another special brownie pan from Williams Sonoma that molds like mini Hershey bars? Very cute.
Yours look great and of course, fantastic pics to prove it!
P.S. I scheduled my brownie entry post for midnight and it did not post until now! Bah!
I love your gingerbread man brownies!
Ack! Brownie men! Awesome idea!
I made letters and you made little men! These brownies look good.
I love your little men! Cinnamon and chocolate is a heavenly combo.
AH! YEAH… little brownie men! How cool!
I’m sure they were just as amazing without the walnuts… anyways, isn’t the great oozey and tender chocolate the most important!!!??? LOL
Very cute!
So adorable! They look fantastic! I made squirrels and snails!
Brownie Men. I can deal with that – completely. They look great.
Carmen,
I made these a while back….they were the best brownies we have ever had!
http://www.staceysnacksonline.com/2009/03/katharine-hepburn-brownies-baked-by-kid.html
I LOVE the gingerbread men, too cute!!