German Chocolate Brownies
These German Chocolate Brownies feature a chewy, chocolate base topped with toasted pecans and coconut!
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And with that, I rest my case. What case is that, you ask? Well, one that is very, very important. A debate that has raged for 85 years. Is Goofy a cow or a dog?
We all know Goofy, right? The lovable, yet clumsy cartoon character who is one of Mickey’s best friends. Last weekend, we were sitting around chatting with one of our friends while Robbie watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on tv. (For any parents of toddlers, I’m sure you know this cartoon…and I’m sure you cringe whenever you hear the Hot Dog Song, right?)
Well, at some point, we looked up and saw Goofy on the screen. And I happened to ask whether Goofy was a cow or a dog. Laura swore he was a dog. Our friend was undecided. I said I wasn’t sure, but that he definitely was more cow than dog. I mean Pluto is the dog in the cartoon, so it didn’t make sense that Goofy would be a dog, too. With that, I reached for my phone and turned to the source of all wisdom: Google. Sure enough, as I typed “Is Goofy a…,” Google autofilled with “cow or dog.” Ok, so I’m not the only one who has pondered this one.
So Goofy might look like a dog in that he has long, floppy ears. However, according to one source, Goofy was created by Disney in 1932. His original name was Dipalwa Dawala, and he’s actually an Aberdeen-Angus cow from Scotland. I kid you not, folks. However, this site makes a sound argument that Disney decided in the 1930’s that his characters needed to all be American. After all, America was on the brink of World War II against Hitler at the time, so it makes sense that Disney would circle the wagons and promote American characters, right? For the record, the author later admitted that while the article is fictional, it is based on early Disney cartoon shorts. So I guess that leaves us back where we started, huh?
In a completely shameless effort to sway the jury, I offer up these German Chocolate Brownies. These brownies feature a deliciously chocolaty base topped with a combination of coconut + toasted pecans. It’s German chocolate cake…in brownie form! And trust me when I say that these German Chocolate Brownies are irresistible. I might have eaten all of the crust pieces while I was taking pictures. (Of course, making brownie crusts disappear is one of my favorite tricks!)
Oh, and did you know that German Chocolate Brownies (and German Chocolate Cake for that matter) have nothing to do with Germany? Nope, this chocolate was created by a man named Sam German. The chocolate is similar to semi-sweet chocolate, but it has a bit higher sugar content…so recipes with German chocolate tend to be a little sweeter. You can absolutely just use semi-sweet chocolate though. The recipe will still work. The brownies will still taste delicious. And Goofy will still be a cow. Yes, a cow with a doglike nose. But a cow nevertheless.
And next time you find yourself watching a Disney cartoon (particularly Mickey Mouse Clubhouse), just pay attention to the interaction between Goofy and Clarabelle Cow. It is clear they are more than friends, although the writers only offer subtle hints and clues. So is Goofy a cow or a dog? Let’s bake up a batch of these German Chocolate Brownies and watch some old Disney cartoons in hopes of finding an answer! (Ok, that’s just an excuse to make German Chocolate Brownies….as if we really needed an excuse.) Either way, enjoy my friends!
German Chocolate Brownies
Ingredients
For Topping
- 6 oz. evaporated milk
- 6 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 3 large egg yolks beaten
- 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup pecans chopped and toasted
- 1½ cups shredded coconut
For Brownies
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 4 oz. German chocolate
- 1¾ cups semisweet chocolate chips divided
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
- ⅔ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ Tbsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
Instructions
For Topping
- Using a medium saucepan, add evaporated milk, butter, brown sugar and egg yolk. Place over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Let simmer for 8-10 minutes, stirring often.
- Remove saucepan from heat and add vanilla, pecans and coconut; stir until well combined. Set aside.
For Brownies
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Grease and flour a 9”x13” baking pan; set aside.
- Using a medium saucepan, add the butter, German chocolate and 1 cup of chocolate chips. Place over medium-low heat, stirring often, until butter and chocolate have fully melted; set pan aside to cool.
- Using a large bowl, mix together the eggs, sugar and vanilla. Stir the egg mixture into the warm chocolate mixture.
- Using a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Stir the flour mixture into the chocolate mixture.
- Stir the remaining ¾ cup of chocolate chips into the batter.
- Pour batter into prepared baking pan. Bake at 350°F for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the brownies comes out mostly clean. Let brownies cool for 5 minutes.
- Spread Topping evenly over brownies; let cool completely before slicing.
In all my thoughts on Goofy in life, I never considered he may be a cow. Just a weird, more self-aware dog. Huh. That’s weird.
See! Now I’ve made you stop and think about Goofy. I hear your dog argument, but it doesn’t make sense as Pluto already has the dog angle covered. Plus, how do you explain the secret relationship between Goofy and Clarabelle Cow? Deep thoughts to ponder this week…haha! Thanks so much, Carrie! I hope you’re doing well, my friend. 🙂
I’m sticking with dog! Now about these brownies….my husband’s favorite cake is german chocolate! So I’m certain these brownies would be his favorite too! They look delicious!
These brownies are so darned good, Kathy! I love a good German chocolate cake, too, so I decided to mix it up and go with brownie form…and woah. Put these on the list for a fun weekend dessert! (You might need a double batch, though…just sayin’!) 🙂
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Hi David! I don’t know what I like more, the brownies or the topping! Or the combination…what’s not to like when you’ve got chocolate, pecans and coconut.
I always thought Goofy was a dog but now that you mention Clarabelle I’m not so sure.
See…now I’ve made you stop and think about Goofy! Deep thoughts for this week, right? Now as far as the brownies vs. the topping? Don’t make me pick a favorite either! I used my go-to brownie recipe (which I absolutely love), and then I topped it with this amazing German chocolate topping (which I absolutely love). Together they’re a match made in heaven…kinda like Goofy and Clarabelle Cow! 😉
I’ve always leaned toward Goofy being a dog because for a cow he’s ridiculously skinny. Dipalwa Dawala is hard for me to pronounce at my advanced age; I can’t imagine if a child tried to say it! Goofy is a better name for him, whether he’s a dog or a cow or some kind of hybrid. OH! And the thing about German chocolate cake not being German is my favorite piece of trivia to trot out at dinner parties. I’m such a pleasure to sit next to :). These brownies look awesome and I’d probably eat the whole batch myself.
Well, that is a good point about Goofy being too skinny for a cow. But how do you explain the secret love affair with Clarabelle Cow? That kinda throws a wrench into things, and for me it tips the scale over to cow. Deep thoughts to ponder while you’re baking away this week, Kelsie! 🙂 I bet you would be a fascinating person to sit next to at a dinner party! I’ll sign up for that job…as long as you bring dessert. (Or if there’s already dessert at the party, then you can just bring me a slice of your latest creation and slide it under the table. No one needs to be the wiser.) Haha!
I haven’t watched Disney cartoons for years, so I needed to google both Goofy and Pluto to understand what you’re talking about. I remember these dudes! But I have always thought Goofy was the dog/wolf (Honesty, I never though of this at all. I would just enjoy the cartoons). But I’m quite surprised. I mean holy cow! Clearly, the creator didn’t have the purpose to depict the cow which would resemble the actual cow. For me, it’s still a dog…with a duck face haha. I’ve glad that at least you’ve created something which is clearly delicious and looks like the dessert!:) The combo of brownies, coconut, and pecans is divine.
Haha…I love that you stopped to google Pluto and Goofy! 🙂 We’ve been watching quite a few Micky Mouse cartoons lately thanks to a certain little guy in the house. So Goofy as a wolf, eh? Now that’s a new twist. I’ll have to stop and think about that one. But I refuse to admit that Goofy is a dog! Pluto is a dog, so he already has the dog character covered…Goofy is something else, and I say he’s a cow! His love affair with Clarabelle Cow is my proof! Either way, these brownies are amazing, and they’re totally one of my favorite desserts if I need to take dessert anywhere lately! Thanks, Ben!
My Mom used to make German Chocolate Cake, it was delicious, I still remember her at the stove melting chocolate, she had to melt it on low and she always said she wished she had a double boiler but she was too tired to make one herself. Those were the good ole days. I always thought Goofy was a dog, those big floppy ears give that one away. I’m with Laura. Wait so Goofy was created as a cow? wow, that blows my mind. I need some of these brownies right now.
Haha…oh, double boilers. I don’t own one, either, but I do melt the chocolate using the bowl inside the pot method. It’s a nice and easy way, but I’ve also done the low heat thing like your Mom. Either way leads to delicious melted chocolate which in turn leads to delicious German chocolate cake…or German chocolate brownies. 🙂
So I don’t think Goofy was actually created as a cow (the author of that post admitted that she made it up, but she did base it on early versions of Goofy cartoons). So the debate still rages on. Cow or dog? Or as Ben suggests…wolf? I remain firmly on the cow side thanks to Goofy’s secret love affair with Clarabelle Cow!
This question has come up in my house, too, although it was long ago enough that I don’t remember if anything was decided. I’m pretty much in the dog camp, but only because he doesn’t look like a cow to me. Now these brownies, I’m in whatever camp they happen to be, they look and sound amazing! Thanks for the recipe!
So we’re not the only ones to have the Goofy dog or cow debate? Awesome! Haha! So I hear ya that Goofy doesn’t look much like a cow, but he looks more cowlike in some of the older cartoons. Plus, he’s not much of a dog either. Pluto is the dog in the show! And how do you explain the love affair with Clarabelle Cow? 🙂 Either way, I suggest making a batch of these German chocolate brownies and then sitting back and watching Disney cartoons…sound like a good plan? Thanks, Laura!!
Ha ha, I loved how you “reached for my phone and turned to the source of all wisdom: Google.” to find the answer to the question “Is Goofy a cow or a dog”? I mean to me Goofy is most definitely a dog. Not a cow! But if Google says he’s a cow then it’s true, And I know it’s true because I tell my parents (whenever they ask me a question) to “Google” it, and therefore I can’t go against the source of all truth when I’m promoting its use to my parents!! Now let’s chat about these brownie……. awesome by the way! 😉
Google really is the source of all wisdom! The only problem is deciding whether or not that wisdom is accurate. Haha! So I finally found something that I disagree with you on, Neil. Goofy is most definitely not a dog! I remain in the cow camp just because of his secret love affair with Clarabelle Cow. If Goofy is a dog, then this love affair just makes no sense at all! Either way, these brownies are delicious…so let’s make a batch and then pick up this discussion where we left off? 🙂
My grandkids love watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. I think that Goofy is a dog. I also think that I would love these German chocolate brownies. They look amazing!
I hear ya on the dog argument, but start watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse a bit closer whenever Goofy is on. He has a secret love affair going on with Clarabelle Cow, and that punches a hole in the dog theory. Just sayin’! 🙂 Also, these brownies are mighty delicious…perfect for snacking on while you ‘research’ Goofy! Haha! Thanks, Dawn!
What? I always thought goofy is a dog, it never even crossed my mind that it can be a cow :/ the topping for these brownies though sounds delicious!
So now you have some deep thoughts to ponder this week, Manali! Is Goofy a cow or a dog? Or something else? 🙂 I say make a batch of these brownies and then sit back and try to figure out one of life’s greatest mysteries! (Ok, maybe not life’s greatest mysteries…unless you’re 2 years old. Haha!) Thanks so much, my friend!
We have a couple of people in our family who LOVE German Chocolate cake and I think that in brownie form it would be even better!
The whole ‘what the heck is Goofy’ has always cracked me up! Do you remember that scene in Stand By Me when the kids were sitting around the fire trying to figure out what he is? Makes me laugh every time…
So it’s hard to say that these brownies are better than cake…only because both are so darned good! 🙂 But I have to say that these brownies are mighty delicious! Oh my gosh, I had totally forgotten about that scene in Stand By Me. I need to go see if I can find it on YouTube somewhere now. Thanks for the reminder, Marissa!
Yes, you really don’t need an excuse to make brownies. They are good anytime. And, these topped with extra pecans and toasted coconut sounds awesome!
Haha, I totally agree with you, Balvinder! Brownies need no excuse. 🙂 The flavors in this one are amazing, too. I have to be careful when making these because I just want to eat them all! 🙂 Thanks so much, my friend!
Well you’re just full of knowledge today! Totally always assumed that Goofy was a dog and German chocolate cake originated in Germany. I don’t really care where the cake originated, because it looks delicious regardless!
Hey, I’m not necessarily full of knowledge if I can’t answer the question about what Goofy is! (Although German chocolate cake is indeed not German at all. There’s nothing German about it!) But that’s just a fun fact to share in between bites of these delicious brownies! 🙂 Thanks so much, Nicole!
Now I knew that tidbit about German chocolate cake and Germany – but, David, my mind’s blown! Goofy’S an Aberdeen-Angus cow???? WHAAAAATTTT???? Though offer me one of these decadent brownies and I’ll believe / agree to believe ANYTHING! P.S. now am starting to think that my coffee and a veggie burger breakfast NEEDS some dessert to round it off – I better unpack my drone and send it over – keep ya window open! 🙂
Weellll….we’re really not sure what Goofy is. The author of that article admitted that she took some liberties based on early Disney cartoons. (She also admitted that she wanted to see if she could out-google google and get her page highly ranked for the ‘what is Goofy’ question. It worked!) So the jury is still out. But I do say Goofy is a cow mainly because he has a secret love affair going on with Clarabelle Cow. And it just doesn’t make sense for a dog to love a cow!
Either way, these brownies are definitely a keeper of a recipe, my friend! So many awesome flavors going on in these. Send up that drone!!
WHAT?! i’ve always thought that goofy was a dog, and i tend to think of myself as someone who knows more about disney than the average person probably should. (i did know the sam german thing, though i’m not sure where i kept that tidbit in my brain). anyways, aside from my disbelief, these sound delicious, and like a good way to satisfy a german chocolate cake craving without busting out a massive cake (:
So here’s the thing. Goofy might be a dog. No one really knows. But I come down wholeheartedly on the cow side. After all, how do you explain his love affair with Clarabelle Cow? Either way, one thing we can definitely agree on is chocolate…and brownies…and brownies topped with pecans and coconut. 🙂 Haha! Thanks, Heather!!
Chocolate, pecans and coconut! Everything about these brownies is delicious!! I could literally eat the entire batch myself! But I still can’t get over the fact that you are discussing Goofy and Clarabelle Cow’s relationship in this post!! I had a hard time reading this post without breaking out in a laugh every now and then!! You both need to stop watching cartoons with Robbie :D.
Oh my gosh, it was so (SO!) hard not to eat this entire batch of brownies by myself, Deepika. Add in the fact that I was taking these photos in the late afternoon when I was already hungry anyways…and it was a bad combination! 🙂 And I think you’re right…I really should just grow up and stop watching cartoons. Or just get Robbie to start watching Scooby Doo as that is my all-time favorite cartoon! Haha!
Love the sound of that topping, never seen anything similar before!
Oh, this combination of chocolate, coconut and nuts is SO good, Caroline! Give it a shot sometime! 🙂
Ok, that freaks me out! Goofy? A cow? These brownies don’t freak me out, though. They look fantastic.
Hey, I’m just saying…Goofy could actually be a cow. How else do you explain the torrid love affair with Clarabelle Cow? 🙂
Hi David! Had to come back and tell you I made these today…OMG!!! I could eat the topping with a spoon! I’ll come clean, I did eat a big spoonful of it before putting it on the brownies. 🙂 I know I will be up at least twice in the night to get a piece (or two).
Yay! I am SO glad you enjoyed these, Dorothy. And for the record, I don’t blame you one bit for eating the topping with a spoon. Haha! Hopefully Gary liked these, too! Or maybe I should say I hope Gary didn’t like them as that would leave more for you. 🙂 Either way, thank you so much, my friend!