Vintage Brownie Pudding Recipe (1940s Recipe)

This vintage recipe combines a delicious brownie with a chocolate pudding that is baked right in the same pan, like magic!

Growing up my mom didn’t buy store-bought sweets often but she did keep baking supplies on hand and since I started baking at just two years old I was pretty much always allowed to bake if I wanted to.

A favorite memory of mine is from when I was a kid and my best friend and I really wanted something chocolate. We decided to look through my mom’s Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook and we found a recipe for brownie pudding. Sounded good to us!

The recipe seemed simple and I was a pretty good baker by that point. We did however start to question ourselves when the instructions told us to pour a water mixture over the batter without stirring.

When we reached this step we looked at each other concerned and said “it looks like dirty dishwater!” We decided to keep going so we put it in the oven and tried to trust the process.

When we pulled it out we were very happy to find it was delicious! Like magic a brownie was on the top with a chocolate pudding on the bottom.

Over the years, we made this many times. It became one of my favorite desserts but I hadn’t made it in a while and thought about it and decided it would be a good birthday treat.

Now I want to share it with you!

The History of Brownie Pudding

This recipe first appeared in an issue of Better Homes & Garden Magazine in 1944. I have since seen it in multiple issues of the magazine from the 1940s-1950s. There are slight differences in the recipe but overall they are very similar.

The recipe is also in my Grandma’s 1953 version of the Better Homes & Garden Cookbook and in my 2002 version. I’m not sure what version my mom has but it was there as well. If a recipe has made it this long you know it has to be good! 

How to Make Brownie Pudding?

This recipe is quite easy to make, something I find was generally true of wartime recipes. It also is an egg-free brownie recipe so perfect for anyone with an egg allergy or if you need a dessert and find you don’t have any eggs on hand.

Scroll down to find the full recipe card. There is a printable version as well!

What you will need to make brownie pudding:

• All-Purpose Flour
• Sugar
• Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
• Baking Powder
• Salt
• Milk
• Oil
• Vanilla
• Brown Sugar
• Boiling Water

You will mix the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, salt, milk, oil, and vanilla. This will make a thick batter that you will spread in a pan. Over that, you will pour a mixture of boiling water, brown sugar, and more cocoa over the top. This is when you have to trust the process.

After that you bake and when you pull it out there will be a delicious brownie on top with a creamy chocolate pudding underneath. And a quick note, while the pan in these photos looks burned it’s not, this can happen but just soak in hot water when you are done enjoying the browning pudding and it will be easy to clean. You can also help prevent it by wiping the pan with a wet rag before putting it in the oven but I’m not your mom and it will taste good either way.

What Should You Serve with Brownie Pudding?

Brownie pudding is great on its own served hot or cold. You can also serve it with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, caramel syrup, nuts, or anything that you enjoy with brownies.

My favorite way to eat it is warm with vanilla ice cream. It’s the perfect combo. Especially because the dish isn’t overly sweet and has a lot of chocolate flavor.

However you want to serve it, I highly recommend that you make it very soon! It will likely become a family favorite as well.

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Vintage Brownie Pudding

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This indulgent dessert combines the best of both worlds, with a rich, fudgy brownie layer atop a velvety chocolate pudding, resulting in a truly unforgettable treat.

Cook Time 40 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons cooking oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 cups boiling water

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a medium mixing bowl combine flour, sugar, 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
3. Stir in milk, oil, and vanilla.
4. Pour the batter into a greased 8x8x2 baking pan. It will be thick, just spread it over the pan as well as you can.
5. In a small bowl mix together brown sugar and 1/4 cup cocoa powder. Stir in the boiling water carefully.
6. Pour this water mixture over the brownie batter, carefully.
7. Bake in a 350 degrees oven for 40 minutes. Let cool for 45 to 60 minutes. Serve warm.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 251Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 202mgCarbohydrates: 51gFiber: 1gSugar: 36gProtein: 3g

Nutrition information isn’t always accurate.

More Vintage Dessert Recipes

Want to try even more delicious vintage dessert recipes? I’ve got you covered!

• The Best Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe
• Easy Chocolate Coffee Pudding
• Chocolate Chip Cottage Pudding
• Apple Bread Pudding