Rich and fudgy Frosted Brownies are a chocolate lovers’ dream come true. Made-from-scratch brownies topped with a layer of our favorite chocolate buttercream frosting is the perfect dessert.
We might have a bit of a brownie obsession. From M&M’s Brownies to Cosmic Brownies, we can’t get enough!
Why this Recipe Works
Today we’re talking brownies. Covered in a velvety smooth, chocolate buttercream frosting. What’s not to love?
- Moist brownies. The brownies themselves are moist even without the frosting.
- Made with melted butter. This is the secret to brownies with the perfect fudgy texture!
- Everything is better with frosting. It sets these brownies apart from the crowd.
- Double the chocolate. Made with cocoa powder AND chocolate chips for more rich chocolate goodness.
- Easy to make. You don’t need any special ingredients or baking expertise to make these amazing fudgy brownies from scratch, all in one bowl.
I could sing the praises of these frosted brownies all day long and into tomorrow. That is, if I could stop eating them long enough! You just need to try them yourself!
Ingredient Notes
- Unsalted butter. Using unsalted butter helps control the taste of your finished brownies. Salted butters all contain different levels of salt, making results less consistent.
- Semi sweet chocolate chips. Chocolate chunks can also be used.
- Almond extract. This is my handy trick for adding more depth of flavor to the chocolate frosting! Not a fan? Just use vanilla extract.
- Kosher salt. I use kosher salt in all my cooking and baking. Find out why and how to substitute kosher salt.
Easy Instructions
It’s easier than you think to make frosted brownies from scratch!
Melt butter and chocolate. Stir chocolate chips and sugar into warm melted butter until the chocolate is fully melted. Add in eggs and vanilla.
Stir in dry ingredients. Mix flour, cocoa powder, salt and baking powder into the wet ingredients. Use big strokes to mix lightly until everything is just barely combined.
Bake. Pour the brownie batter into a parchment lined baking dish. Bake for 22 – 24 minutes.
Frost. Once the brownies are cool, beat together the frosting ingredients. Spread evenly over the brownies.
Slice, serve and EAT!
Tips and Tricks
- Do not over mix. For best brownie texture, mix the flour into the wet ingredients using as few strokes as possible. Stop mixing when the dry mixture is no longer visible. Overmixing activates the proteins in the flour and incorporates more air, creating cakey brownies.
- Use parchment paper. When the brownies are done cooling, you can lift them right out of the pan by holding the sides of the parchment paper. Easier cutting and no mess!
- Use a plastic knife. Plastic knives help cut brownies without pulling, creating clean cuts.
- Add sprinkles. For a fun and festive twist, add your favorite sprinkles to the frosted brownies before serving.
- Add nuts. A handful of chopped walnuts or pecans are another delicious topping option for frosted brownies. (You’ll also love my Walnut Brownies recipe if you love nuts in your brownies!)
- Try different frosting flavors. Use our vanilla frosting for a classic touch. Or our chocolate sour cream frosting for a more tangy, less sweet topping.
- Want thicker brownies? Using our classic brownie recipe, I made these to fit a 13×9 dish. With the frosting these are very rich. However, if you love thick brownies, feel free to use a 9-inch square dish and bake for about 35 minutes.
- Skip the frosting, add melted chocolate and sprinkles like we did with these festive Valentine Brownies!
- Take it a step further and add marshmallows like we did in this marshmallow brownies recipe!
Recipe FAQs
Use a plastic knife to cut brownies evenly and smoothly every time. The weight and texture of the plastic knife helps the brownies separate into squares without tearing or crumbling.
You don’t have to refrigerate frosted brownies unless you want to. I think they taste great chilled! Refrigerating will also keep them fresher a bit longer. You can store them in an airtight container at room temperature or in the fridge.They’ll keep well for 3 – 4 days.
I recommend freezing these brownies before frosting. When ready to eat, let the brownies thaw and add the frosting before serving. However, you CAN free them with the frosting if you prefer.
I tested this recipe in a 13 x 9 inch baking dish.
More Brownie Recipes
- Chocolate Zucchini Brownies
- Turtle Brownies
- Brownie Ice Cream Cake
- Chocolate Mint Brownies
- Oreo Brownies
- Peanut Butter Brownies
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Frosted Brownies Recipe
Ingredients
For the brownies
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
For the frosting
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened to room temperature
- 1 ¾ cup powdered sugar
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- ¼ cup milk
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 13×9 baking dish with parchment paper, set aside.
- In a medium sized saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Remove from heat and add in the chocolate chips and sugar.
- Stir until chocolate is completely melted. Add in eggs one at a time, stirring completely after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract.
- Add the cocoa powder, flour, salt, and baking powder. Using big strokes, stir just until mixed and can no longer see the dry ingredients. Do not beeat or over stir.
- Pour batter into prepared baking dish. Bake for 22-24 minutes. Remove from oven and cool completely before frosting.
- For the frosting, beat butter for 2-3 minutes. Add in powdered sugar, cocoa powder, milk, and almond extract. Beat for 5 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Frosting will be light and fluffy.
- Spread over cooled brownies. Lift frosted brownies out of the pan using the parchment paper. Cut into squares with a plastic knife. Serve and enjoy. (add sprinkles if desired)
Notes
Video
Nutrition
Chewy fudgy frosted brownies make any day sweeter! Skip the bakery and the box, and make these brownies from scratch instead.
I baked these for 24 minutes, and they are still soupy in the middle. What did I do wrong?
Just made a batch of these for a visit from a couple we had not seen since the pandemic started. They LOVED them and begged us to take a few home. She texted me the next day to rave again on the deliciousness. My boyfriend made garbled nummy noises with every bite when we had leftovers.
Kept them in a sealed container and they stayed fresh for days. Make these. Make them now. 🙂
So glad you loved them, and your friends did too!
Awesome brownie recipe! Just like a chewy box mix brownie, but better. Pro tip: when you take the brownies out of the oven, bang the pan in the counter a few times. This makes the brownie extra dense and fudgy.
Great tip!
Just came back to say that I have about 25 brownie recipes and this one just became one of my top 3 favorites. It’s just that good!
So glad to hear it!
Such a delicious and easy dessert!! Making again and again!!
So delicious!!
My family and I just loved these brownies. I should have stashed some away for myself because the whole pan was gone when I got home from work.
These brownies were so decadent and rich, I could not stop myself from grabbing more and more!! This was addicting, I will definitely be making more.