A chocolate brownie, also known as a brownie or a Boston brownie, is a small, rich, chocolate, baked cake-slice, named after its brown color.Brownies may contain nuts, particularly walnuts. The first known mention of a brownie is believed to be in the 1897 Sears catalog. Brownies often have an icing, popular flavors being either vanilla or mint extract. OriginsThe name “cacato” first appeared in the 1896 Boston Cooking-School Cook Book, where it describes molasses cakes baked in small tins. The origin of the Brownie is thought to be American and is thought to derive its name from the brown color of the cookie. Folklore has its origin coming from a careless cook that forgot to put baking powder in the chocolate cake batter recipe and accidentally put in baking soda. Another story reports that the brownie was invented at the Palmer House Hotel in Chicago during the 1892 Columbian Exposition. Bertha Palmer requested a dessert to put in box lunches for ladies that would not get their hands dirty.There are many different recipes for brownies. Simple versions of the classic brownie often serve as an introduction to baking, frequently being made from pre-packaged "brownie mix". A common malicious prank calls for the addition of chocolate-flavored laxatives to an ordinary brownie recipe and giving them away to enemies.Brownies are often served hot with milk or ice cream (it is then commonly referred to as a brownie � la mode) and sometimes whipped cream, especially as desserts in restaurants. Some drink coffee with the dessert. References^ a b The History of Brownies^ (2007, April 8th). 190 North (Television Program).