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    Home » Desserts » Cookies, Bars & Brownies » Palm Beach Brownie Recipe from Maida Heatter

    Palm Beach Brownie Recipe from Maida Heatter

    Aug 5, 2019 · by Valentina · 40 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    The Palm Beach Brownie recipe from Maida Heatter is the best. Just ask any of my Palisades besties -- they were one of our favorite desserts in the 80's and today. These brownies are rich, creamy and smooth on the inside, and the outside is crisped to perfection. 

    A few Palm Beach Brownies on a white cloth with pink flowers

    My mom started making this Palm Beach Brownie recipe when the Book of Great Chocolate Desserts by Maida Heatter first came out in 1980.

    These brownies are somewhat legendary in my family and in the close circle of friends I grew up with. (You know who you are!)

    You know how in every group of friends (especially as a kid/teen), there's that one friend's house that was sort of the 'hub' where all the friends always gathered, the house you knew almost as well as your own, where their family felt like your family? That was Aimée's house for my group.

    Aimée's sister Julie was almost always in their kitchen making either a show-stopping mud pie or Palm Beach Brownies. Perhaps that was part of the draw. 😉

    My mom, a self-proclaimed chocoholic, also made this recipe on the regular. (That's a picture of her book below.)

    There are a few baking recipes that I can't make without thinking about lazy care-free days growing up in the Palisades, and this brownie recipe is definitely at the top of the list!

    Meida Heatters Chocolate cookbook.

    I just love how tattered and chocolate-stained most of the pages are in my mom's book, clearly cherished and loved.

    Palm Beach Brownie Recipe by Meaida Heatter

    Simply put, this brownie recipe is amazing! I think the espresso powder, almond extract, and the length of time the eggs are blended are the keys to its deliciousness.

    • The espresso powder intensifies the chocolate flavor.
    • The eggs are blended (with the sugar, salt, vanilla, almond and espresso), for 10 minutes. This helps create the rich and creamy texture.
    • The almond flavor makes the brownies interesting without tasting like almond. It leaves one thinking there's a unique flavor in them, but they can't quite put their finger on it.

    There are three small changes I made to the original Palm Beach Brownie recipe...

    1. I lower the oven temp to 375° F from 425° F. I did this because my mom had long ago penciled in this change in her book.

    2. I omit the 8 ounces of walnuts. Only because I prefer my brownies without nuts. Add them if you like them. 🙂 

    3. The amount of sugar in the original Maida Heatter recipe is quite high -- 3 ¾ cups! I lower it to 2 ¾ cups and it's just as good. 🙂 (You could probably lower it even more if you're so inclined.)

    How to Make Them

    - Adjust the rack one-third up from the bottom of the oven and preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a 9 x 13 x 2-inch baking pan with foil. Grease the foil with the 1 tablespoon of butter.

    Recipe Tip. The easiest way to do this is to add the butter to the foil-lined pan and place it in the hot oven for a minute or so. Then use a pastry brush -- or the butter wrapper -- to make sure the butter evenly coats the bottom and sides of the foil.

    - Melt the chocolate and 8 ounces of butter together in the top of a large double boiler over hot water on moderate heat -- or in a heavy saucepan over very low heat. Stir occasionally until the chocolate and butter are melted. Stir to mix, remove from the heat, and set aside to cool to room temperature.

    Recipe Tip. I like to melt the chocolate and butter together at least an hour before I'm ready to make the recipe. It has to be cooled before it's mixed with the other ingredients, so this way, it's totally ready when I am.

    Brownie batter in a pan with baking beaters above it.

    - In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the eggs with the vanilla, salt, espresso, and sugar at high speed for 10 minutes. On low speed, add the cooled chocolate mixture and beat only until mixed. Then add the flour and again beat only until mixed. Use a rubber spatula to scrape the batter into the prepared pan. Smooth the top.

    Brownie batter in a bowl with a spatula.

    - Bake for about 35 minutes, reversing the pan front to back as necessary during the baking to ensure it bakes evenly. Cover loosely with foil for about the last half of the baking time to prevent over-browning. At the end of 35 minutes, the brownies will have a thick, crisp crust on top, but if you insert a toothpick into the middle, it will come out wet and covered with chocolate. And that's exactly what you want. They're done!

    Recipe Tip. Be patient after they're baked and let them cool completely. They'll be much easier to slice and will look much prettier.

    Baked Palm Beach Brownie recipe in pan with foil.

    - Remove the brownies from the oven and let them cool for at least a few hours. If you can, refrigerate them them overnight before cutting. A serrated knife will cut them easily.

    Baked brownie batch cut into squares.

    Can you freeze these brownies?

    Yes! They freeze and thaw beautifully. I would freeze them for no longer than a month, if possible.

    Short stack of square brownies on blue and white cloth napkin.

    "These are the biggest, thickest, gooiest, chewiest, darkest, sweetest, mostest-of-the-most chocolate bars with an almost wet middle and a crisp-crunchy top."  -- Maida Heatter

    And what could be better than that?!

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    Oh, and if you're interested in the best gluten-free brownie ever, you will love my Brownies made with coconut flour.

    Enjoy every last crumb of my version of this delectable Palm Beach Brownie recipe.

    Short stack of square brownies on blue and white cloth napkin.

    Palm Beach Brownie Recipe

    Valentina K. Wein
    These brownies are rich, creamy and smooth on the inside, and the outside is crisped to perfection.
    5 from 8 votes
    Print
    Prep Time 35 minutes mins
    Cook Time 35 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 24
    Calories 250 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 8 ounces unsweetened chocolate, roughly chopped
    • 8 ounces plus 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, cut into cubes, divided
    • 5 large eggs
    • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
    • 1 teaspoon almond extract
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 2½ tablespoons instant espresso powder
    • 2¾ cups granulated sugar
    • 1⅔ cups all purpose flour, sifted

    Instructions
     

    • Set the oven and prepare the pan. Adjust the rack one-third up from the bottom of the oven and preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a 9 x 13 x 2-inch baking pan with foil. Grease the foil with the 1 tablespoon of butter. The easiest way to do this is to add the butter to the foil-lined pan and place it in the hot oven for a minute or so. Then use a pastry brush -- or the butter wrapper -- to make sure the butter evenly coats the bottom and sides of the foil.
    • Melt the chocolate and butter. Melt the chocolate and 8 ounces of butter together in the top of a large double boiler over hot water on moderate heat -- or in a heavy saucepan over very low heat. Stir occasionally until the chocolate and butter are melted. Stir to mix, remove from the heat, and set aside to cool to room temperature.
    • Finish the batter. In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the eggs with the vanilla, salt, espresso, and sugar at high speed for 10 minutes. On low speed, add the cooled chocolate mixture and beat only until mixed. Then add the flour and again beat only until mixed. Use a rubber spatula to scrape the batter into the prepared pan. Smooth the top.
    • Bake. Bake for about 35 minutes, reversing the pan front to back as necessary during the baking to ensure it bakes evenly. Cover loosely with foil for about the last half of the baking time to prevent over-browning. At the end of 35 minutes, the brownies will have a thick, crisp crust on top, but if you insert a toothpick into the middle, it will come out wet and covered with chocolate. And that's exactly what you want. They're done!
    • Cool. Remove the brownies from the oven and let them cool for at least a few hours. If you can, refrigerate them them overnight before cutting. A serrated knife will cut them easily.

    NOTES

    Calorie count is only an estimate.

    NUTRITION

    Calories: 250kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 59mg | Sodium: 43mg | Potassium: 115mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 292IU | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 2mg
    Keywords dessert for party, desserts for a crowd
    Have you tried this recipe?I'd love to see it on Instagram! Tag me at @cookingontheweekends or leave a comment & rating below.

    Cooking On The Weekends is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Hopie Gokddmith

      March 09, 2018 at 7:32 pm

      5 stars
      Finally. Validation that Maida’s 425 degree temperature is just too hot for these fabulous brownies. Thank you!!! Otherwise after years of recipe testing—-these are my family/friends first choice. I keep them refrigerated. They freeze well too.

      Reply
      • valentina

        March 11, 2018 at 10:18 am

        Hi there! So happy to hear this. They are definitely our family favorite, too! 😀 Enjoy!

        Reply
    2. Linda

      January 12, 2019 at 3:00 pm

      Ditto on the 425 degrees!!!
      Although I have 3 of Maidas cooks books, whose recipes I trust implicitly, I don't own her Chocolate Dessert book and so didn't have confirmation on the temperature.
      The recipe was easy enough to assemble and so I did and proceeded to get dressed to head out, after turning the pan at mid point in baking.
      I smelled burning and figured it was the edges anticipated to be more well done and removed. ulled the pan out 6 minutes ahead of time and dreaded the result.
      Once chocolate burns it permeates the rest of the cake because of the fat content.
      The bottom was burnt in spots. I tried "shaving" the bottom. It left one third the size intended AND tremendous frustration.
      I definitely wish I read your blog beforehand ; (
      Worse still is the remaining burnt smell in the house, as a reminder, which should have been the fragrance of sumptuous chocolate and gorgeous brownies.

      Reply
      • valentina

        January 14, 2019 at 6:40 pm

        Hi Linda,
        Yes 425 is way too high. I don't get it. At least you know next time you'll get that delicious fragrance you want of the chocolate! Promise! 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
    3. angiesrecipes

      August 05, 2019 at 8:03 pm

      I love the combo of coffee and chocolate. These brownies look absolutely irresistible! Bet you can't walk away eating just one or two :-))

      Reply
      • valentina

        August 06, 2019 at 1:28 pm

        Thanks, Angie. Exactly. I usually try to make them for someone else and save myself a few. 😉 ~Valentina

        Reply
    4. 2pots2cook

      August 05, 2019 at 11:46 pm

      5 stars
      Have seen this one on IG yesterday and printed to add to my baking list once the heat decides to leave .... 🙂 Thank you Valentina !

      Reply
      • valentina

        August 06, 2019 at 1:28 pm

        Thank you! 😀

        Reply
    5. Marissa

      August 06, 2019 at 11:11 am

      5 stars
      These brownies look so fudgy and delicious, Valentina! I'll have to add the walnuts back in ;), but otherwise: perfection!

      Reply
      • valentina

        August 06, 2019 at 1:29 pm

        Awesome, thanks. My mom loved them with the walnuts. 🙂 !Valentina

        Reply
    6. John / Kitchen Riffs

      August 07, 2019 at 8:42 am

      Who can resist brownies? I sure can't! And anything Maida Heatter does is A-OK in my book -- she's a terrific recipe writer. These look great -- thanks.

      Reply
      • valentina

        August 07, 2019 at 3:44 pm

        Happy you're familiar with her writing. I love her chocolate book! Enjoy and thanks, Valentina

        Reply
    7. Blythe Goodman-Schanz

      August 07, 2019 at 2:42 pm

      What about using parchment paper instead of foil? I don’t mind using butter to coat the foil/parchment, but also wondering if the baking spray (with flour) would serve same purpose? I don’t really like walnuts in my (chocolate) brownies either, but pecans or macadamia nuts are rather tasty in my blondies though. Thanks!

      Reply
      • valentina

        August 07, 2019 at 3:43 pm

        Hi! Yes, parchment would work just as well. I usually use parchment for anything I bake, but in the original recipe foil is used, so I kept it. 🙂 And if you do use parchment, as long as you cover the sides as well as the bottom, you wouldn't even need the butter. I think that's a better option than spray and flour. I hope you love them! (Pecans and macadamias sound great!) ~Valentina

        Reply
    8. Christina Conte

      August 07, 2019 at 7:55 pm

      5 stars
      I've never heard of this cookbook, but the brownies do look decadently delicious! How lovely to have your mom's notes in the book!

      Reply
      • valentina

        August 08, 2019 at 3:15 pm

        Thanks, Christina. Oh how I love my mom's penciled in notes. 🙂 Cheers! ~Valentina

        Reply
    9. Jeff the Chef

      August 08, 2019 at 4:20 am

      These brownies really do sound pretty incredible.

      Reply
      • valentina

        August 08, 2019 at 3:15 pm

        Hope you try them, Jeff! 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
    10. Dawn - Girl Heart Food

      August 08, 2019 at 7:49 am

      5 stars
      Sounds like a lovely book and awesome brownie recipe! Love espresso/coffee with chocolate so these are right up my alley. These would make any day instantly better!! Pinned! Have an awesome weekend, my friend 🙂

      Reply
      • valentina

        August 08, 2019 at 3:14 pm

        Thanks, Dawn. They do make days better!! Love that. 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
    11. Dana @ Foodie Goes Healthy

      August 08, 2019 at 10:56 am

      5 stars
      I love everything about this post: the fabulous recipe, the changes you made, the family story, the photo of the old cookbook. Can’t wait to try these. Coffee and chocolate are my favorite combo.

      Reply
      • valentina

        August 08, 2019 at 3:14 pm

        Thanks so much, Dana! I think you will love them! Maida Heatter's recipes are wonderful! xo ~Valentina

        Reply
    12. David Scott Allen

      August 09, 2019 at 8:15 am

      I used to have her cookbook and I have no idea what happened to it! So many good recipes (the French silk is amazing!). However, I never made the brownies! I love all the changes you made. A.) I think 425° is way too hot. B.) I don’t like to mess up my chocolate with nuts. C.) That is WAY too much sugar! And I love sugar! Will definitely try them. My favorite brownie recipe so far is from a book I reviewed years ago: Connie’s PMS Brownies. But I am open to change! xo

      Reply
      • valentina

        August 09, 2019 at 5:16 pm

        Well now I'm just going to have to look up Connie's PMS Brownies. Fun! 😀 Cheers, Valentina

        Reply
    13. David @ Spiced

      August 12, 2019 at 5:34 am

      5 stars
      Holy cow! You weren't lying when you said the original version of this recipe has a lot of sugar. But then again, we're talking brownies here. I love a good brownie, and these look quite delicious, Valentina! I often use espresso powder in my chocolate desserts, but I'm intrigued by the almond extract here. Thanks for sharing this one!

      Reply
      • valentina

        August 12, 2019 at 9:48 am

        I know, right!? Espresso powder with chocolate is the best! Hope you give it a try and love it! ~Valentina

        Reply
    14. cate

      August 27, 2020 at 1:35 pm

      could you bake these in mini cupcake pans

      Reply
      • valentina

        August 27, 2020 at 5:16 pm

        Sure! I would use mini paper cups as well. Adorable! 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
        • Kate

          August 30, 2020 at 8:59 pm

          How long should I bake them in mini paper cups

          Reply
          • valentina

            August 30, 2020 at 11:11 pm

            Hi Kate, my apologies for not seeing this sooner. Hope I'm not too late! I would set the time for 15 minutes and check them at that point. They might need a few more minutes. Just like when you make the brownies, they should have a crisp crust on top, and if you insert a toothpick into the middle, it should come out wet and covered with chocolate. Enjoy! 🙂 ~Valentina

            Reply
    15. Kathy

      October 26, 2021 at 3:13 pm

      Hello, Great recipe and story line about the recipe! I have 7 (almost all?) of Maida Heatter's cookbooks thanks to our wonderful mom who went to cooking classes and got me started on them. Like your book, pages are wrinkled and stained with chocolate and vanilla and with notes written, too. (But this does not compare with our mom's 1946 Woman's Home Companion Cook Book which she got as a wedding gift and is yellowed and literally falling apart with all of the use!). Anyway, I can't figure out---did Maida wrap and freeze and then give them away OR freeze and then take out, wrap in cellophane or wax paper and give away? How did she do it? I wish I could ask her. I have been wrapping and freezing but what did she do???! And what did she do with the back of the brownies...I usually have to put tape there to keep the 2 ends closed. These are my 2 burning questions. Thanks!

      Reply
      • valentina

        October 26, 2021 at 9:51 pm

        Hi Kathy, Thanks so much for writing in. I love learning of other Maida Heatter fans. 😀 So great you have so many of her books. Love that they're from your mom. Some of my favorite cookbooks are my mom's. The books are all better with their notes, don't you think?
        I wish I knew the answer to your first question. I would guess she would wrap and freeze them, and then give them away.
        As for the second question, I'm not sure I understand . . . what do you mean by "back of the brownies?"
        The answer to the third question is easy, in my mom's book, she crossed out 425°F and wrote in 375°F. So that's what I do, and they've always turned out great. It's not a very scientific answer, I know. 😉 And now I'm craving them and don't have any in the freezer. I'll have to fix that. Thanks for visiting my site and checking out this post. Enjoy! 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
    16. Kathy

      October 26, 2021 at 3:21 pm

      My other question is if Maida was such a great baker (which we know she was) how come the 425 degrees temp is lowered to 375 degrees. I have been making them at 425 because that is what she said. I am scared to lower the temperature. Since she tested and re-tested and made these so much, how could the temperature not be right??????? I am just wondering. Thank you.

      Reply
    17. Alene

      February 06, 2023 at 9:15 am

      Has anyone tried this gluten free?

      Reply
      • Valentina

        February 06, 2023 at 8:13 pm

        Hi Alene, Here is a very similar recipe that's gluten-free. https://cookingontheweekends.com/gluten-free-brownie-recipe/
        Enjoy! 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
        • Alene

          February 07, 2023 at 12:05 am

          You won't believe it, but now I can't eat coconut, even in flour.

          Reply
          • Valentina

            February 07, 2023 at 7:28 pm

            Oh no! So sorry about all of your restrictions. For the Palm Beach Brownies, swap the regular all-purpose flour for Cup4Cup gluten-free all-purpose. The ingredients in that are Cornstarch, White Rice Flour, Brown Rice Flour, RBST-Free Milk Powder, Tapioca Flour, Potato Starch, Xanthan Gum. I hope all of those are okay for you. It's a fantastic gluten-free flour. Let me know how it goes. 🙂 ~Valentina

            Reply
    18. Sharon Kate

      July 09, 2024 at 4:12 pm

      5 stars
      Hi Valentina - I used this recipe many times years ago when I was catering. I recently made 2 pans of the brownies for a bridal shower, and noticed that all the sides were burnt. A good amount of the brownies were wasted cutting the burnt bits off! I also noticed that they seemed too sweet this time. I was delighted to find your revision of the recipe with exactly the changes I was thinking of making! It really is the BEST brownie recipe ever!! I usually gild the lily and frost them with chocolate frosting!! Thank you for posting this!!!

      Reply
      • Valentina

        July 11, 2024 at 1:21 pm

        Hi Sharon. Thanks so much. My favorite brownies, too. And still quite sweet even with the lower amount of sugar. Happy baking! 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
    19. David Scott Allen

      March 15, 2025 at 9:02 am

      I have loved these brownies since I first tried your version years ago. They are so good. Thanks for "fixing" the recipe. I still wonder what happened to my Maida Heatter cookbook...

      The best part of all this was the lovely post of memories from your youth with Aimée and her family, and all the other children in the hood. Memories are the most incredible gifts we are given.

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Valentina, certified chef, owner, recipe developer and photographer at Cooking on the Weekends. I'm also a mom of two boys and a Los Angeleno. I use seasonal whole foods to create unique and comforting recipes for casual entertaining.

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