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

    Who is famous for brownies? ›

    One legend about the creation of brownies is that of Bertha Palmer, a prominent Chicago socialite whose husband owned the Palmer House Hotel. In 1893, Palmer asked a pastry chef for a dessert suitable for ladies attending the Chicago World's Columbian Exposition.

    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.

    Which brownie is good? ›

    Walnut brownie: This is a classic brownie that is loved all over the world, so it's no surprise that Theobroma's walnut brownie is a bestseller across India as well.

    Who made the first brownie ever in history and in what country was it originated? ›

    It's hard to truly determine who ought to be credited for the first brownie. One version of history credits Bertha Palmer, a Chicago businesswoman and socialite, for inspiring the sweet that is about as American as apple pie. On a recent visit to Chicago, I took a walk down one of the brownie's memory lanes.

    How much does a Palmer House brownie cost? ›

    The hotel sells individual boxed brownies, tied with a Palmer House ribbon, for $5. Just ask for one at the Lockwood bar or host stand. It makes a terrific Chicago souvenir if you can manage to get it home before eating it.

    Why is brownies changing their name? ›

    Canada Girl Guides renamed Brownies, new name Embers meant to be more inclusive The new name, Embers, was approved overwhelmingly by members and is meant to be more inclusive. Past and present Girl Guides said the old name caused harm and even prevented or delayed their joining.

    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.

    What can I add to brownie mix to make it taste better? ›

    Six Sneaky Ways To Make Brownie Mix Taste Homemade
    1. Use melted butter instead of oil.
    2. Use milk, flavored creamers, or brewed coffee instead of water.
    3. Add extracts or flavorings.
    4. Add mix-ins like cookies and candies.
    5. Underbake, just slightly.
    6. Toppings.
    7. My Favorite Mix-Ins and Toppings.
    Jan 19, 2021

    Which brownie mix is better Duncan Hines or Betty Crocker? ›

    Duncan Hines and Betty Crocker fell in the middle of the pack — neither were bad, but Duncan Hines' brownies were a little too chewy for my taste, and Betty Crocker's were a bit too sweet. But I could see both mixes making many people happy.

    What is the most expensive brownie? ›

    Check out our new seasonal flavor - Dark Chocolate Peppermint Brownie, or our new Espresso Roast Brownie, it's a win-win, really. The Most Expensive Chocolate Brownie, the Brownie Extraordinaire, can be found in the Crystal Menu of Brulee in Atlantic City, NJ. It costs $1,000.

    What is a royal brownie? ›

    Royal brownies are sweet and full of cocoa, sugar, and applesauce. These brownies come out smooth and fudgy and you can add walnuts for some additional texture.

    What are the 3 types of brownies? ›

    Brownie textures fall into three general camps… Cakey, fudgy and chewy. Cakey brownies, like the name implies, are light, moist and airy, with a slightly fluffy, cake-like interior. Fudgy brownies are moist, dense and gooey, with almost the texture of fudge, but not quite as compact.

    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 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.

    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.

    Who came up with brownies? ›

    Brownies were invented in 1893 at Palmer House by Bertha Palmer, a socialite and philanthropist, who achieved a reputation as a skilled musician, proficient linguist, writer, and able politician.

    Who is the founder of brownies? ›

    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.

    What culture is brownies from? ›

    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.

    Who started bad brownie? ›

    We quizzed Bad Brownie co-founders, Paz Sarmah and Morag Ekanger, to find out all the juicy details.

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