Brownies Were Invented in Illinois—and You Can Still Taste History

Yes, brownies were invented and unveiled first in Illinois. Bertha Palmer of the Palmer House Kitchen served up her magical treat at the Columbia Exposition in Chicago in 1893. Since then, the concept has swept all over with creative variations and flavors. Today, the Palmer House is a Hilton Hotel on East Monroe downtown in Chicago.

There is brownie history inside that hotel

The original brownie wasn’t just chocolate, it included walnuts with an apricot glaze. It’s rich with luscious flavor combinations and texture. You can still order them at the Palmer House location, and lots of people stop in just to get the brownie. These days brownies are everywhere in Illinois, but Palmer House aside, which ones are considered the elite?

Brownies are an Illinois tradition

“Best” is subjective. You may like your brownies more dense or more lightly cakey. You may like heavy icing, or just a drizzle. Perhaps you like nuts or fruit, or even other candies cooked inside of your brownies. There are myriad directions to take these, and that makes them fun to try.

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In Rockford, Illinois, Sugarjones has garnered high praise for their brownie varieties. Trefzger's Bakery in Peoria Heights has been making brownies for decades and scores high marks. Silverland Bakery in Forest Park, Illinois has an array of brownies to get lost in.

Go and taste ALL the brownies!

Many bakeries these days have focused on cupcakes and cookies to buttress their cake business. Brookies, scones and other pastries have also become popular, but the brownie tradition finds its home in the Land of Lincoln.