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Brownie Points

Most people agree that brownies are delicious, but the style of brownie that is best is open to debate. Should they have nuts or no nuts? Should they be cakey or fudgy? Should they have a peanut butter swirl or be topped with icing? However, nothing inspires more debate about brownies than which part of the baking tin they come from. In this matter, at least, the correct choice is clear: brownies from the edges of the baking tin are better than centre brownies in every way imaginable.

The brownie pieces that bake along the edge of the baking tin are harder and crispier than the centre pieces. This makes them sturdy and strong enough for all your dessert needs. They are clearly the best pieces to dunk in milk because they won’t fall apart. And they stand up better in a brownie sundae, too. They can soak up the ice cream as it melts and still maintain their structure and chocolatey goodness. A weaker centre brownie wouldn’t stand a chance beneath the weight of two to three scoops of frozen dairy. The firm edge brownies also have a crust that can be used like a handle. This makes them ideal for on-the-go snacking. By contrast, a weak, gooey centre piece is much more likely to leave sticky smears of chocolate on your hand.

Plus, the edge pieces of brownies provide a better eating experience. This is because people love hearing their food crunch. Also, crunchy food is perceived to be more fresh than soft food. Like a salty potato crisp or a crisp stalk of celery, a crunchy edge brownie creates an appealing sound and feel when chewed. Furthermore, we enjoy foods more when they have a variety of textures. This is especially important with desserts, which are usually just sweet and therefore need more texture to really stand out.

If you agree that edge brownies are better, you’re in luck. When you bake brownies, you can use a special S-shaped baking tin that puts edges on every piece. And if you prefer to buy your snacks at the shop, you can now find many thin, crispy chocolate snacks that are just like brownie edges. Meanwhile, people looking for a softer brownie can stick to the centre pieces. This just leaves more of the crunchy, delicious edges for the people who want the absolute best brownie-eating experience.