The Only Brownies I Bring to Potlucks Are My Grandma’s 4-Ingredient Recipe

When I'm attending a potluck, dessert is always my responsibility. And whether it's for a graduation, baby shower, or summer BBQ, one thing’s for sure—the dessert I bring will always be the same.

The reason is simple: not long ago, I realized my grandma’s brownie recipe, which she made for us as kids, isn’t just delicious—it’s also incredibly easy. Since then, I’ve let everyone else handle the fancy dips and charcuterie boards. My grandma’s timeless, crowd-pleasing brownies have become my signature dish.

Grandma’s 4-Ingredient Brownies

Every visit to my grandma’s house in North Georgia followed the same routine. First, you’d walk through the door, exchange hugs and kisses, then make a beeline for the kitchen—where a plate of fresh brownies was always waiting for us kids.

I never understood why her 'brownies' tasted and looked different from the ones I had everywhere else, but it didn’t matter—these were fudgy, nutty, salty-sweet, and utterly irresistible. My only gripe was that she cut them into the tiniest portions. Looking back, I get it now—it’s because they’re so rich, but at 7 years old, my sweet tooth didn’t care about moderation.

These 'brownies' aren’t made with the typical ingredients you’d expect in a standard brownie recipe—no eggs, oil, or butter. Instead, they’re made with just four simple ingredients. The base is graham cracker crumbs, and the only chocolate comes from chocolate chips. Chopped walnuts add crunch, while sweetened condensed milk ties everything together for a chewy, irresistible treat.

If this sounds familiar, you might recognize this dessert as Magic Bars or Hello Dolly Bars. But in my family, we call them Noreen’s (or Nonni’s) Brownies.

The Ultimate Potluck Treat

Why do I love these brownies for any occasion? Because there’s nothing more comforting than an easy, two-step recipe to eliminate pre-potluck stress. The best part? All four ingredients are pantry staples, so you’ll never have to make an extra trip to the store no matter the season. And the instructions? Simple—just combine. It doesn’t get easier than that.

You can easily customize these brownies to fit your crowd’s tastes by adding coconut, pecans, butterscotch chips, or anything else you fancy. The irresistible flavors and mix of textures are a perfect match for any potluck spread.

No matter who I make these for, they’re always a hit. The minimal effort required to make them can remain our little secret—all that matters is that they’re a unique, homemade treat that always outshines box-mix brownies or store-bought sugar cookies.

Feel free to make Nonni’s classic recipe your own potluck favorite. Some might call them 'magic,' but I prefer to think of them as the result of my grandma’s special touch.

Grandma Nonni’s Legendary Brownie Recipe

• 18 graham crackers (or 9 doubles), crushed into fine crumbs
• 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 (6-ounce) package chocolate "bits" (or chips)
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts
  

• Mix the ingredients together in a bowl until they’re fully coated.
• Grease and line a 9-inch square baking pan. Pour in the mixture, then use a spatula to spread it evenly. Bake at 350°F for 30 to 40 minutes, checking for the unmistakable aroma of baking brownies. Once done, cut into tiny squares to serve.