1/2 cup butter
5 tablespoons cocoa (dry)
1 cup sugar
2 eggs, slightly beaten
3/4 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
Nuts and or coconut, if desired

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Grease and flour a 9 x 9-inch baking pan. Melt cocoa and butter in large sauce pan over the lowest heat possible, stirring constantly until thoroughly combined. Remove from heat. Add sugar and eggs. Mix thoroughly. Sift together flour, salt, and baking powder and add to sauce pan, mixing thoroughly. Add vanilla and nuts, if desired. Stir gently until vanilla is absorbed.

Pour into baking pan and bake for 20 minutes, no longer. Longer baking makes a hard, dry brownie. Cool.

Frost with chocolate frosting (any variety) or dust with powdered sugar.

Will serve 12 to 16 people depending how large a brownie you want.