By Brett Konen
Welcome to Leafly’s Pot Brownie Bracketology, where March Madness meets reefer madness and we search low and high to discover the absolute best cannabis brownie recipe.
The contenders: Triple Chocolate Brownies (by The Cannabist) vs. Classic Cannabis Brownies (by High Times)
The story: In terms of cannabis coverage, it doesn’t get more classic than High Times – the outlet just celebrated 40 years in the industry, and we looked to it for a truly classic cannabis brownie. Its recipe went head to head with a triple-choc recipe from the team over at The Cannabist. We weren’t sure how to predict this one, which made the decisive outcome that much more eyebrow-raising.
Brownie A: Triple Chocolate Brownies
Get The Cannabist’s cannabis-infused brownie recipe here
Creator: The Cannabist
Original recipe contains cannabis? Yes
Why we picked it: Recipe author Laurie Wolf has over 30 years of experience in recipe development and produces her own brand of infused edibles. The recipe promised to take pot brownies to the next level, and our interest was piqued.
What we liked best: The texture: creamy white chocolate and crunchy chopped nuts come together to great effect.
What we liked least: With all its toppings, the flavor of the brownie itself gets a bit lost.
Most valuable ingredient: The hazelnuts – a judge favorite across the board.
Judges’ notes:
“The nuts…were an added bonus.” –Kristin Kofmehl, events coordinator
“The nuts on top made this one more visually appealing and gave it a nice texture.” –Andrew McCabe, IT systems administrator
“Tasted a lot better than it looked.” –Rebecca Kelley, senior content marketing manager
Brownie B: Classic Cannabis Brownies
Get High Times’ cannabis-infused brownie recipe here
Creator: High Times
Original recipe contains cannabis? Yes
Why we picked it: We went looking for a classic cannabis brownie, and this recipe’s title spelled it out.
What we liked best: It’s no-frills.
What we liked least: The recipe calls for just one quarter of a cup of cannabutter, resulting in the weakest final product of any of the eight recipes in the bracket – including the vilified Batali recipe, which High Times itself has called “Mario Batali’s embarrassing pot brownie fail.”
Most valuable ingredient: Applesauce – the brownies would have been too dry without it.
Judges’ notes:
“This brownie was a little nugget of flaky deliciousness…with little chocolate chip surprises. The high was mellow and uplifting and spurred conversation and creativity instead of a nap.” –Kristin Kofmehl, event coordinator
“The chocolate chips were a nice touch.” –Sara Dilley, photo editor
“Very weak potency, if any?” –Daniel Girodat, senior software engineer
Scores (Average of Two Judges):
The Cannabist
High Times
Appearance
4.5
3
Aroma
4
4
Texture
5
3.5
Flavor
4.5
4
Potency
3.5
2.5
Total
21.5
17
Winner: The Cannabist!
How will The Cannabist’s Triple Chocolate Brownies fare in the semi-final against Edibles Magazine’s 420 Irish Brownies? Find out on Friday! And check back tomorrow to find out who will win two more Round 1 faceoffs: our editor’s mom versus Martha Stewart, and a rebellious blogger versus Julia Child.
Disclaimer: Cannabis edibles should always be prepared and consumed with care. Know your tolerance, start slow, and never drive under the influence of cannabis.
To continue reading this story, visit our friend’s website (opens in a new window):: Pot Brownie Bracketology Round 1: The Cannabist vs. High Times