William Greenberg at Home: Baking Brownies with the Kids

There’s a simple reason they’ve been a New York favorite for more than 50 years: William Greenberg’s brownies are awesome. And now you can make them at home. But before you do, take a look at bakery owner Carol Becker’s advice on how best to include your desperately-looking-for-a-project kids.

Why you should go bake right now:

Baking is fun and creative—what better way to build bonds between siblings and between kids and parents? Especially when you get to eat homemade treats together as part of it.

Baking instructions by age group:

Any kid can add something to the bowl, or to mix it all together. And of course, everyone loves to decorate. Give the older kids the task of measuring ingredients; it’s a great way to sneak in a math lesson: How many ounces in a pound? How many cups in a quart?

Why baking could (technically) be part of any homeschooling activities:

For one thing, it teaches them a life skill: how to prepare food. For another, kids like to feel they are contributing, that they have real responsibility, and this is an easy way to give it to them.

The #1 tip to set them—and you— up for success:

Let them make a mess! Let them laugh and have fun—it's just brownies (or a cake or cookies), for heaven’s sake. Let their creativity go wild when it comes to decorating, too. You can never have too many sprinkles!

William Greenberg Brownies

Ingredients 

• ½ cup butter
• ½ cup unsweetened cocoa
• 1 cup sugar
• ½ cup flour
• 2 eggs ¼ tsp salt
• 1 ½ tsp vanilla
• ¼ tsp baking powder
• ½ cup chopped walnuts, optional

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350º.
2. Grease 8”- square pan; set aside.
3. In a separate pan, melt butter, then remove from heat.
4. Add eggs, sugar, and vanilla; stir to blend. Add in dry ingredients and mix.
5. Pour batter into greased pan.
6. Bake 25-30 minutes.