Episode 29: Betty Crocker and the History of Brownies
Where did brownies actually come from—and how did they go from a color-themed party trend to one of the most trusted desserts in America?
In this episode of True Crime Culinary, Leah Llach explores the surprisingly layered history of the Chocolate brownie—from 1880s “brown” dinner parties and molasses-based proto-recipes to the rise of boxed mixes and the invention of Betty Crocker (who, famously, wasn’t even real).
Along the way, we look at how brownies became a global, adaptable dessert—from British traybakes to matcha brownies in Japan—and why their structure makes them one of the most…
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