Cooking Through Fiction: Percy's Ambrosia Brownies

Sometimes life is difficult. If you’re a demigod, you can multiply your problems by at least ten. In my day-to-day existence, I don’t normally battle monsters, such as evil Titan lords, but Percy isn’t as fortunate as I am. Monsters sniff him out. Literally.

Even small tasks that Percy believes are easy enough usually result in a battle for his life. In The Titan’s Curse, Percy’s is sent out to recruit two, young demigods. He ends up battling a manticore that is masquerading as a vice principal. And you thought your schools were rough!

During the fight, one of the manticore’s poisonous spikes pierces Percy’s skin. Percy finds medical attention in the form of an ambrosia square. Ambrosia is the food of the gods, and Percy will need a boost, especially if he’s going to save Annabeth from the Titan’s curse.

“‘Hold still,’ Grover told me. ‘Here, eat some ambrosia while I clean it out.’ I winced as he dressed the wound, but the ambrosia square helped. It tasted like homemade brownie, dissolving in my mouth and sending a warm feeling through my whole body.” (Riordan, Rick, Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Titan’s Curse. [New York: Hyperion Books for Children, 2007], 35)

Ambrosia tastes different for everyone. To Percy, ambrosia tastes like warm, homemade brownies.

Percy’s Ambrosia Brownies

Ingredients

For the brownies:

2 sticks softened butter

¾ c packed light brown sugar

1 c granulated sugar

2 eggs

1 tbsp vanilla extract

3 ½ c all-purpose flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1-1 ½ c milk

2 c chocolate chips

For the filling:

8 oz cream cheese

2 tbsp sugar

1-2 tbsp milk

24 Oreo cookies

How to Make

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Cream butter and sugars until well blended.
3. Add eggs and vanilla and beat until combined.
4. Mix flour, salt, and baking soda in a medium-size bowl.
5. With mixer on low, alternate adding flour mixture with milk (starting and ending with flour mixture). Add additional milk if batter is too thick or still crumbly.
6. Add chocolate chips; mix until just combined.
7. Press half of dough into bottom of a greased 9x13 pan.
8. Bake for 10 minutes, or until slightly browned.
9. While brownies are baking, beat cream cheese with sugar. Add enough milk to make the mixture a spreadable consistency. Beat on high until cream cheese mixture is light, fluffy, and smooth.
10. Remove brownies from oven; top with 24 Oreo cookies.
11. Spread cream cheese mixture over Oreos.
12. Top with remaining half of brownie dough. Note: This is easier if you drop batter onto cream cheese mixture and spread with fingers.
13. Bake 25-30 minutes, or until brownies are set. Do not overcook. Cool before cutting.