This post was originally published on 16th November 2019 and updated on 28th March 2021.

Chocolate brownies fill me with all the emotions.

Whether I’m baking them or eating them, they bring a mixture of happiness and an overwhelming sense of sadness.

My best friend was the absolute queen of brownies. No one else’s could ever compare. They were perfectly gooey in the middle, with that slight crack on top, the kind you hope for every time you open the oven door. But it wasn’t just about the taste. It was the love she poured into them.

Sadly, my friend died when we were just 28.

The Secret Recipe

While she was alive, she kept the recipe a closely guarded secret. Even now, I have no idea where it originally came from, Maybe that was part of the magic. She loved baking them, yes, but what she loved most was sharing them. Turning up with a tin under her arm. Watching people take that first bite. Seeing their faces light up.

After she left us, her sister made the beautiful decision to share the recipe with family and friends. And in doing so, she gave us something incredibly special. By passing on those simple magic ingredients, she ensured her memory would live on in the most chocolatey way possible.

Baking in Her Memory

Every year since she passed, on her birthday, family and friends bake her brownies in her memory. Kitchens across the UK, and probably even further afield, fill with the smell of melting chocolate and memories of our beloved friend, sister, daughter and auntie.

I won’t be giving away the recipe anytime soon. Some secrets are meant to stay sacred.

But I can promise you this: they are, without question, the best chocolate brownies to ever grace my kitchen!