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You have questions, we have answers
Please see below the most frequently asked questions that we have encountered. If you don't see an answer to your question please Contact Us directly and we will be happy to answer any question you may have. Our customers are most valuable ingredient in our business we strive to make everyone completely satisfied.
Enjoy!
Table of Contents
- Brownies
- Choose My Own Flavors
- Ganache
- Benefits of Chocolate
- History of Brownies and Blondies
- Brownie Flavors
- Serving Suggestions
- Ordering
- Brownie of the Month Clubs
- Storage and Handling
- Shipping
- Packaging
- Special Requests
- Corporate, Large Orders, Special Events
- December Ordering
- Catalogue Requests
- Wedding Favors, 23K Gold Brownies and our Presidential Collection
- Wholesale Opportunities
- Issues Placing Order Online, Website Error Messages
Brownies
American Brownie believes in a Quality Product. So we only use the freshest and highest quality ingredients available when baking our products. The way they were when you were a kid only BETTER!
Nutritional information on American Brownies products
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Choose My Own Flavors
You may choose your own flavors for our "Traditional" size Brownie Gift Packs. We do not allow mixing of brownies between collections. (i.e. No Sugar Added with Traditional Brownies in the same Gift Pack) To place your custom order please contact us directly at 1-800-956-7604 (M-F 9am - 6pm EST).
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Ganache
The origins of Ganache are debatable but it is believed to have been invented around 1850. Ganache is the creamy chocolate found in the center of a rich Chocolate Truffle it also is found as a filling for cake layers, as a primary compound for a chocolate soufflé, or can be cooled to room temperature so it becomes a spreadable icing.
American Brownie Company uses four different types of Ganaches ( Dark Chocolate Ganache, White Chocolate Ganache, Sugar-Free Ganache and Peanut Butter Ganache ) in our products and we make each of them from our own secret blend of varying types of chocolate which produces an incredibly smooth velvety texture.
The taste and quality of the Ganache is primarily dependent on the quality of chocolate you start with. Remember not all chocolates are the same. Chocolate begins with the beans from the tropical tree Theobroma which translates to "Food of the Gods". There are three types of cacao beans (Forastero, Criollo, and Trinitario) and the type and/or blend of beans, their quality, and where they are grown all contribute to the quality and taste of the chocolate. Other factors affecting taste and quality are how the beans are roasted, how the beans are ground into a mass called chocolate liquor, how much extra cocoa butter is added to the chocolate liquor, quality and amount of other ingredients added, and how long the chocolate liquor is conched (processed). A chocolate with a higher cocoa butter content will produce a ganache that is firmer than one made with a chocolate that has a low cocoa butter content. A chocolate with a velvety smooth texture will produce a ganache that is velvety smooth.
To make ganache boiled heavy cream is poured over chopped chocolate and the mixture is stirred until velvety smooth. The proportions of chocolate to cream can vary depending on its use, but the basic form is equal weights of chocolate and cream.
Source: Jaworski, Stephanie "Joy Of Baking" 1997-2004 http://www.joyofbaking.com/ganache.html
View our Gourmet Brownie Selections
Recent studies suggest that consuming dark chocolate is good for your heart. Here are a few articles that suggest a diet of dark chocolate can lead to healthy living. We use only Gourmet Belgium Dark Chocolate in our brownies and Ganaches ensuring you get the best product possible. I always told my mom chocolate was good for me.
Sources:
WebMD Health - "Dark Chocolate a Day Keeps the Doctor Away"
USA WEEKEND Magazine - "Eat Smart" by Jean Carper
Consumer Health Journal - "Chocolate Shown to Combat Aging" by Alison Stewart
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History of Brownies and Blondies
Ever wonder when Brownies and Blondies were first created. Some sources say that is was back in 1897 in a Sears and Roebuck Catalogue that they forgot to include baking power in a chocolate cake recipe and the cake came out dense and fudgy. Others say that is was first published also in 1897 in a Fanny Farmer Cookbook but the brownies recipe did not have chocolate but molasses instead and still others stake their claim to the brownie fame. Anyway you cut we are happy that someone created them. Click here to see The Food Timeline for Brownies and Blondies.
Sources:
The Food Timeline - by Lynne Olver
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Brownie Flavors
We have created specific selections of our most popular flavors to assist you with ease of ordering convenience when giving our Gourmet Brownies as Gifts. However, if you would like to customize your order by selecting your own flavors please Call Us at 1-800-956-7604 for personalized service and flavor assistance.
Below is a key to our most common flavor selections
Gourmet Brownies
All Chocolate Brownies:
Receive a Brownie Box Full of our "Traditional" Double Dark Chocolate Brownies. This is Perfect for the True Chocoholic!!Gone Nuts:
Love Nuts? This Flavor Combination is for you. Receive one of each: German Chocolate Brownie, Chocolate Peanut Butter, White Chocolate Walnut Blondie, Turtle Brownie, Triple Peanut Butter Blondie and of course one of our "Traditional" Double Dark Chocolate Brownies.All White Chocolate Walnut Blondie:
Not a Fan of Dark Chocolate. Then this All White Chocolate Blondie Pack is for you. You will Receive 48 Gourmet White Chocolate Walnut Blondies.Chefs Assortment:
Can't decide on what to get. Let our Pastry Chef create a unique combination just for you. You never know what you might get; perhaps a Holiday Flavor or the chance to receive a New Flavor that we are working on. This is an excellent choice if you are new to our Gourmet Brownies or sending as a Gift.Half and Half:
Half of you wants White Chocolate and Half of you wants Dark Chocolate. Well here is a pack designed to please all. Receive Half an Order of White Chocolate Walnut Blondies and Half an Order of Double Dark Chocolate Brownies. The Perfect Balance!No-Sugar Added Brownies
No Sugar Added All Chocolate:
Receive a Pack of all No Sugar Added Dark Chocolate Brownies.No Sugar Added Assortment:
Receive a pack full of: All Chocolate, Chocolate Chunk, Peanut Butter Cup and our All Nuts No Sugar Added Brownies.Back to Top
Serving Suggestions
We have had many customers contact us regarding serving suggestions. Some of our customers love to warm them in the microwave just slightly (10sec) and serve them with ice cream. Examples are a white chocolate walnut blondie with butter pecan or french vanilla ice cream or our Double Dark Dark Chocolate brownie with coffee or vanilla ice cream. Other customers have told us that they love to slice them smaller and put them in the freezer for a small snack on a hot summer day.
We have always suggested to enjoy them with a nice glass of wine (Port or Cabernet), a nice espresso or an elegant cup of tea, or just have them the way mom would like with a nice big glass of milk. Anyway you choose to enjoy them we hope that these decadent pieces of dessert bring you back a simpler time in your life.
Enjoy!
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Ordering
Placing an order online is simple and easy. Simply fill out our convenient order form, select which items you wish to purchase with the quantity, choose your method of payment. Sit back and relax your personal order will be baked once we receive it and usually shipped on the very same day.
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Brownie of the Month
Placing an Brownie of the Month order online is simple and easy. Simply select the club package you wish to purchase, fill out our convenient order form and choose your method of payment. Then sit back and relax. Shortly after your order is placed a letter will arrive to announce your gift and your order will be shipped out at the beginning of each month.
Your order will be shipped to the same address each month. In the event that you or your recipient move please notify us as soon as possible so that we may update our records. You are allowed to change the address only once.
*Update - Brownie of the Month is currently suspended while we are working on an exciting new programs and different offerings. Please check back later for and update.
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Storage and Handling
We suggest you refrigerate them to keep them fresh longer they will last approximately 21 days if refrigerated and 7 days if left out on the counter. As with almost any product freezing is always a possibility. If you would like to freeze them place the brownie in an individual freezer bag trying to evacuate all excess air. Our brownies can be frozen for up to 3 months. Remember eat them fast and always order more.
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Shipping
Orders are usually shipped on the same day they are baked to ensure that you receive the freshest products available. We do not ship on Sunday and only special request shipments on Saturday please keep this in mind when placing your order. Orders placed after noon on Friday, Saturday and Sunday are normally shipped on the next business day. Sometimes due to high volume an order shipment date may need to be changed to fill your order with the freshest product possible. Unfortunately, we are unable to control the shipping process. In the event something happens to your shipment please contact us as soon as possible.
FUTURE SHIPMENTS
We can accommodate orders placed today and shipped at a predetermined later date. When filling out the shipping information please indicate the Future Shipping Date for your order. ( please keep in mind that it will take 2-3 shipping days from selected Shipping Date with USPS Priority Mail® for your package to arrive.)
Hawaii, Alaska and other U.S. Territories may take slightly longer for delivery. We also suggest that you chose one of our Tower Collections for shipment to these locations since it is shipped in our strongest boxes.
If you have a special request please feel free to contact us. We will do all that we can to accommodate your special request if it is possible.
RETURNED ITEMS
If an incorrect address is given or for some reason that the package is returned there will be additional fees to have the package re-shipped.
RE-SHIPPING / REFUNDS
We will be glad to send you another package to replace the one damaged. However, in the event of a refund we do not refund any shipping and handling charges. Those orders with promotional shipping offers will still be charged for our standard shipping and handling charges and that may affect total refunded amount.
SHIPPING TO APO's
We have shipped several to APO's but unfortunately, in shipping to APO's we cannot guarantee the delivery time or the condition in which the product may be received. We suggest that you chose one of our Tower Collections or "Naked" Brownie Collections for shipment to APO's since it is shipped in our strongest boxes. When Checking Out simply fill in the APO's delivery address. If you have any questions or are experiencing difficulties please feel free to contact us M-F 9am - 6pm EST and one of our Brownie Specialists will be happy to assist you with your order.
SHIPPING OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES
Unfortunately, due to possible long delays in customs and the fact that we are shipping a perishable product we currently only ship within the United States and its territories.
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Packaging
We package our brownies in Parchment Paper for a clean and beautiful display.
We have been asked why we do not individually wrap our brownies. We are very pleased that we are sending you a gourmet product made with the finest ingredients available. We have found that when we wrap them it tends to alter the taste of the brownie slightly. Our way of thinking is that we do not want to affect the taste of our products by wrapping them in cellophane which allows small amounts of chemicals and oils to transfer to the brownies. Also, our brownies are so large and covered with ganache that wrapping them may also affect the size and characteristics of each brownie. Even thought it is food safe we want you to experience brownies with incredible flavor and taste.
Remember your mom would never want you to have a bad brownie and neither would we.
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Special Requests
No request is too silly. If you have something special in mind or would like us to put our brownies in a special container or basket that you provide we will always do our best to accommodate your request. Contact us and we will see if your special request can be fulfilled.
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Corporate, Large Orders, Special Events
MULTIPLE SHIPMENTS
We are accustomed to handling multiple shipments for organizations and corporations. Please contact us directly for personalized service and volume discounts.
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December Ordering
Ok so you are saying that it is July and you are contemplating sending our brownies as wonderful gifts for the holidays. December is our busiest time and we suggest that you order now for a shipment at a later date or you may Contact Us directly with your gift list. IT IS NEVER TOO EARLY.
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Catalogue Requests
At the present time we have suspended our production and mailing of product magazines. In doing so we have reduced our paper consumption, energy use and fuel usage in the production and distribution of our magazines. Our entire and most current product line can be viewed online on our company website. If you ever have any questions you can contact us via email or phone and we will be happy to assist you with your order.
You may read more about how American Brownie Co. is working towards a Greener future at: American Brownie Co. "Green" EffortsToday we are working with our suppliers to use green products were every possible. We are also working to reduced our water and energy consumption. If you have any questions about our products or our "Green" efforts please feel free to contact us directly at 1-800-956-7604.
Just some small facts to think about:
The U.S. consumption of paper and paperboard in 1999 was approximately 354 kilograms (about 800 pounds) per person
The United States and Canada are the world’s largest producers of paper and paper products . The next largest are Finland, Japan, and Sweden, who produce significant amounts of wood pulp and newsprint.
In 2005, the amount of paper recovered for recycling averaged 346 pounds for each man, woman and child in the United States.
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Wedding Favors, 23K Gold Brownies and our Presidential Collection
Are you looking for our Wedding Favors or our 23Karat Gold Brownies, or perhaps you are looking for our ultra exclusive Presidential Collection?
Please Contact Us directly for these very special brownie offerings. We can also discuss with you Personalization and Customization Options. You may reach us at 1-800-956-7604 we look forward to working with you to create a special and memorable gift for your guests.Remember nothing is "Equally appealing to a 5 year old as a 95 year old".
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Wholesale Opportunities
Are you looking for a new Gourmet Item in your Store, Coffee Shop, Wine Shop or Boutique?
We wholesale our products to numerous Coffee Shops and Gourmet Food Stores across America. We have a low order minimums and can even accommodate special requests. Ask us about additional product items which are not offered on our web site that are ONLY for our wholesale customers.
Please Contact Us directly so that we can work with you to create the perfect wholesale program.for you.
You may reach us at 1-800-956-7604 (M-F 9am - 6pm EST). We look forward to working with you to create a special and memorable Pastry / Dessert Experience for your customers.Remember nothing is "Equally appealing to a 5 year old as a 95 year old".
www.AmericanBrownieCo.com/wholesale/W_Sales.html
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Issues Placing Order Online, Website Error Messages
We apologize for the issues you may be experiencing. Every so often a customer experiences problems with our shopping cart software or receives an error messages.
Some of the reasons you may be experiencing problems are your current computer security settings, internet browse settings or if you are an AOL customer. To help in correcting this problem you may want to choose to try a different internet browser. In most cases this corrects the issue.You are always welcomed to contact us directly at 1-800-956-7604 (M-F 9am - 6pm EST) to place your order over the phone.
Thank you for your interest in American Brownie Co. and our products.
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