Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
½ cup butter or margarine
½ cup shortening
1 cup strong brewed coffee or water
¼ cup dark unsweetened cocoa
½ cup buttermilk
2 eggs
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
Frosting
½ cup butter or margarine
2 Tbsp dark cocoa
¼ cup milk
3½ cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
Directions
Combine flour and sugar in a large bowl.
Combine butter or margarine, shortening, coffee or water and cocoa in a heavy saucepan.
Stir and heat to boiling.
Pour the boiling mixture over the flour and sugar.
Add buttermilk, eggs, baking soda and vanilla.
Mix well with a wooden spoon or an electric mixer on high speed.
Pour into a well-buttered 17½ × 11-inch jelly-roll pan.
Bake at 400°F for 20 minutes or until the center tests done.
Frosting
While the brownies bake, combine butter or margarine, cocoa and milk in a saucepan.
Heat to boiling, stirring.
Mix in powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth.
Pour the warm frosting over the brownies as soon as they come out of the oven.
Cool and cut into bars.
Family Notes
If buttermilk is unavailable, mix 2 teaspoons vinegar or lemon juice into ½ cup milk. Powdered buttermilk prepared according to the package directions may also be used.