22 Great Brownie Recipes for Desserts by the Panful (2024)

Whether you like your brownies fudgy, cake-like, or covered in toppings, this collection of our best recipes has it all. Try a classic buttermilk brownie or opt for the ultimate chewy version. If you want a recipe with a twist, try a fruit topping that adds a bit of tartness, or a splash of bourbon to pump up the richness. It's time to get baking.

01of 22

Dulce de Leche Fluff Brownies

View Recipe

22 Great Brownie Recipes for Desserts by the Panful (1)

Jars of purchased dulce de leche and marshmallow fluff make a decadent—and easy—addition to this otherwise homemade brownie recipe. The sweet toppings swirl together for a marbled effect, making this recipe chewy, gooey, and sweet. For a little crunch, top the brownies with toasted chopped pecans.

02of 22

Malted Brownies

View Recipe

22 Great Brownie Recipes for Desserts by the Panful (2)

It's not just the malted milk balls topping that gives this frosted brownie recipe its signature flavor. Vanilla malted milk powder and a homemade malted milk frosting add to the toasty and buttery flavors of these chocolatey brownies. The mini malted milk balls are optional, but if you can find the candy-coated versions, they add a colorful finishing touch.

03of 22

Gluten-Free Fudgy Brownies

View Recipe

22 Great Brownie Recipes for Desserts by the Panful (3)

Make your own gluten-free flour mix, or buy it prepared for an easy brownie recipe that everyone can enjoy. These gluten-free brownies are delicious on their own, but the chocolate-cream cheese frosting makes them extra fudgy. Try them with a sprinkle of peanut-butter baking chips for a nutty twist that totally works.

Buy It: King Arthur Gluten-Free Flour ($9, Target)

04of 22

Inside-Out S'mores Brownies

View Recipe

22 Great Brownie Recipes for Desserts by the Panful (4)

Bring the flavors of your favorite dessert indoors with this fudgy s'mores brownie recipe. Real graham crackers and marshmallows are baked into the batter to create a mess-free version of this campfire classic. Make these for a summer picnic or cozy up with a batch on a winter evening—they're delicious year-round.

05of 22

Bourbon Brownies

View Recipe

22 Great Brownie Recipes for Desserts by the Panful (5)

These southern-inspired brownies add the bold flavor of bourbon with the nutty and sweet flavors of freshly toasted pecans. Although it's just a splash of bourbon in the batter, the flavor makes these simple brownies stand apart. Top them with a bourbon frosting and a drizzle of chocolate for an extra boost of sweetness.

Orange-Kissed Chocolate Brownies

View Recipe

22 Great Brownie Recipes for Desserts by the Panful (6)

This recipe with a twist marries the flavors of chocolate and orange with the chewiness of a classic brownie. A teaspoon of shredded orange peel and a few tablespoons of orange juice add tangy citrus flavor to the frosting, which sits between two layers of chocolate. Best of all, this recipe makes 32 brownies, so there'll be plenty to go around.

07of 22

Red Velvet Buttermilk Brownies

View Recipe

22 Great Brownie Recipes for Desserts by the Panful (7)

These vibrant red velvet brownies are topped with a buttercream frosting. The buttermilk in the recipe creates a cake-like texture, while rich cocoa flavors are packed into each bite. You can freeze these brownies up to three months. so you'll always have a treat on hand.

08of 22

Marbled Chocolate-Pumpkin Brownies

View Recipe

22 Great Brownie Recipes for Desserts by the Panful (8)

You don't have to wait for fall to enjoy the taste of pumpkin. Canned pumpkin puree gives a sweet-tart boost to this gooey brownie recipe, adding a gorgeous layer. For a nice crunch, top them with crushed walnuts.

09of 22

Sweet Potato Brownies

View Recipe

22 Great Brownie Recipes for Desserts by the Panful (9)

No one has to know there's a vitamin-rich tuber in this healthy brownie recipe. The mashed sweet potato gives the brownies a dense interior texture, with a flaky, crispy crust, and the vitamins and minerals loaded within may even warrant these lightly sweet brownies a spot on the dinner table. OK, maybe only after dinner is over.

10of 22

Fudge Ripple Turtle Brownies

View Recipe

22 Great Brownie Recipes for Desserts by the Panful (10)

Adding a thick layer of melted caramel is only the first step to loading this fudge brownie recipe with delicious decadence. Drizzled chocolate and crunchy toasted pecans top the dense brownies. The end result is something that tastes almost exactly like a homemade candy turtle.

11of 22

Buttermilk Brownies

View Recipe

If you're from the South, you probably know this cake-like brownie recipe better as Texas Sheet Cake. A creamy chocolate-buttermilk frosting makes these cake-like brownies even better. Serve them warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

12of 22

Dark Chocolate Brownies

View Recipe

22 Great Brownie Recipes for Desserts by the Panful (12)

This brownie recipe is for lovers of fudgy dark chocolate. The batter is thick, but it spreads easily into the pan. For the finale, top each bar with vanilla ice cream and hot fudge.

13of 22

White Chocolate Brownies

View Recipe

22 Great Brownie Recipes for Desserts by the Panful (13)

White chocolate and crunchy macadamia nuts give classic brownies the best kind of makeover. This recipe includes light frosting in a layer of melted white chocolate. Bonus: These brownies take just 15 minutes of hands-on time.

14of 22

Crème de Menthe Brownies

View Recipe

22 Great Brownie Recipes for Desserts by the Panful (14)

The flavors of an after-dinner mint come together in this decadent, fudgy brownie. We recommend using a fork to cut through the layers, where fresh mint filling is spread between a dark chocolate brownie and a creamy dark chocolate ganache. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to create a brownie sundae twist on mint chocolate chip ice cream.

15of 22

Cream Cheese-Marbled Brownies

View Recipe

22 Great Brownie Recipes for Desserts by the Panful (15)

This cream cheese brownie recipe is marbled for a showstopping finish. A swirl of cream cheese makes pecan-topped chocolate brownies beautiful and tasty. Toasting the pecans brings out their rich flavor.

16of 22

Coffee and Cookie Brownies

View Recipe

22 Great Brownie Recipes for Desserts by the Panful (16)

This buzzy brownie recipe definitely deserves a seat at your brunch table. A fudgy brownie layer is sandwiched between a crisp sugar cookie crust and melted chocolate pieces. These taste fancy, but they're a cinch to pull together.

17of 22

Caramel-Swirl Brownies

View Recipe

22 Great Brownie Recipes for Desserts by the Panful (17)

These bake-and-slice brownies are a crowd-pleasing treat. Swirls of caramel add a buttery sweetness to the rich cocoa in the recipe. Make a batch for your next bake sale, or serve them as an after-dinner treat the whole family will love.

18of 22

Chocolate-Chipotle Brownies

View Recipe

22 Great Brownie Recipes for Desserts by the Panful (18)

These brownies give off some heat even after they've cooled. Warm chipotle spice kicks up chocolate's smoothness in this recipe, for a match that will delight. Sprinkle extra cinnamon over some vanilla ice cream to help cool things down.

19of 22

Espresso Brownies

View Recipe

22 Great Brownie Recipes for Desserts by the Panful (19)

Coffee enhances the flavor of the chocolate in this chewy brownie recipe. A splash of coffee liquor and a sprinkle of espresso powder give these brownies just the right jolt of flavor. Go over the top with a finishing sprinkle of chopped chocolate-covered coffee beans.

20of 22

Shortbread Brownies

View Recipe

22 Great Brownie Recipes for Desserts by the Panful (20)

This from-scratch recipe is a brownie and cookie combo (a brookie) that totally works. Make and bake these two-layer treats in about an hour. Classic shortbread provides a sweet and simple base; a buttery chocolate layer caps it off.

21of 22

Cake Brownies

View Recipe

22 Great Brownie Recipes for Desserts by the Panful (21)

If fudgy and gooey aren't the way you'd like to describe your brownies, this cake brownie recipe is for you. These are soft and airy and are best when topped with a no-cook chocolate frosting and a scoop of vanilla ice cream (nuts are optional). Bake them in a sheet pan for an easy-to-tote dessert.

22of 22

Ultimate Brownies

View Recipe

22 Great Brownie Recipes for Desserts by the Panful (22)

Your search for the best brownie recipe can stop here. Two kinds of chocolate and a fudge drizzle take this recipe over the top. Add the optional chopped nuts for extra texture, or play around with the stir-in suggestions listed below the recipe to add your own spin.

22 Great Brownie Recipes for Desserts by the Panful (2024)

FAQs

How do you doctor up brownie mix? ›

The first and easiest upgrade you can give to your boxed brownie mix is to add a tablespoon of instant coffee to the batter. Adding coffee to your brownies boosts their flavor because its bitter quality balances out sweetness, making it less overpowering. It allows that delicious chocolate flavor to really shine.

How do you keep brownies soft and moist? ›

Airtight Containers

Use parchment paper to layer brownies into an airtight container for best results. Tip: When storing brownies in an airtight container, add a slice of bread in with them. The moisture from the bread will help keep your brownies fresh and soft for a couple more days.

Why are my brownies cakey and not chewy? ›

A more certain result is to choose a brownie recipe that has a higher amount of chocolate and butter. A brownie recipe with baking powder should be avoided as you'll most certainly end up with a cakey texture. Another reason your brownies may be cakey is too much mixing or beating during the cooking process.

What does adding an extra egg to brownie mix do? ›

If you opt to add more eggs, say double the amount, something interesting happens. Even though you are adding more moisture, the air bubbles that you catch in the extra eggs add volume, which decreases the density of your final product. This makes your brownies rise and gives them a much more cake-like texture.

What can I add to boxed brownie mix to make it better? ›

When the back-of-box instructions call for water, try some instant espresso or strong-brewed coffee for roasty, toasty notes that pair impeccably with chocolate. Or use milk or half-and-half for even more richness. And for cakey instead of fudgy brownies, add an extra egg for more lift and spring.

Should I refrigerate brownies after baking? ›

Do Brownies Need to Be Refrigerated? Brownies don't need to be refrigerated, but they'll hold up a few more days if they are. Unless your brownies include more perishable ingredients like fresh fruit or cream cheese frosting, they'll be fine at room temperature as long as they're stored in an airtight container.

Why do my brownies get hard after they cool? ›

If the edges of your brownie are hard once it's cooled it's because you've over baked it.

Do brownies need to be refrigerated after baking? ›

Brownies don't need to be refrigerated, but they'll hold up a few more days if they are. Unless your brownies include more perishable ingredients like fresh fruit or cream cheese frosting, they'll be fine at room temperature as long as they're stored in an airtight container.

Is melted butter or softened butter better for brownies? ›

The reason we melt butter in brownie recipes instead of beating room temperature butter with sugar is because that helps give a rich, chewy, fudgy texture. Beating butter incorporates air and gives a more light, airy, cakey texture, which we don't want in a brownie.

Is melted or softened butter better for brownies? ›

If you want a fudgy chocolate brownie, use melted butter. For cakey brownies, beating softened butter and sugar together to create air pockets will make your brownies lighter and cakier.

What happens if you put too much butter in brownies? ›

Sadly, more butter is not always better. When too much fat is incorporated, brownies become extremely fudgy, in a seriously bad way. They're slick and greasy, two traits you never want to hear when you're talking about baking.

What does adding milk instead of water do to brownies? ›

One change is to use milk or heavy cream instead of water. This change will make brownies more moist and gooey since milk is more fatty and flavorful than water. A second change is to use butter instead of oil. For similar reasons to using milk, butter adds a rich and more decadent quality to the batter.

Is Duncan Hines or Betty Crocker better for brownie mix? ›

If you like chewy, sticky brownies, I recommend: Betty Crocker Dark Chocolate Brownie Mix. If you like light, less dense brownies with a picture-perfect sugar top that flakes when sliced, I recommend: Duncan Hines Chewy Fudge Brownie Mix.

Should brownie batter sit before baking? ›

Though making brownie batter in advance is possible, it has to be done in a specific way to prevent spoiling. Because most brownie recipes call for eggs, the batter shouldn't sit out for longer than two hours before baking.

How do you jazz up store bought brownie mix? ›

Swirl in Some Good Stuff

Dollop cream cheese, fruit jam, pumpkin puree, peanut butter or caramel over brownie batter. Spoon it into the pan, then cut through the batter to create this wow-worthy effect. Your dessert will be prettier and tastier than every other treat on the table.

What else can you add to brownie mix? ›

Fruits and nuts are great for introducing more flavor and texture to your brownies. When it comes to nuts, you can reach for whatever you have in your pantry—salted, candied, or otherwise. “When I make brownies or blondies, I like to add toasted nuts for extra crunch and flavor,” says culinary editor Genevieve Yam.

What can I add to my Betty Crocker brownie mix? ›

Betty Crocker™ Supreme original brownie mix, plus water, vegetable oil and egg called for on box. Stir-in options: Semisweet chocolate chips, white vanilla chips, butterscotch chips, peanut butter chips, toffee bits, chopped maraschino cherries, chopped cookies, chopped chocolate candy, chopped nuts and more.

What can you add to your brownie mix to pump up the chocolate flavor? ›

Add coffee or instant espresso powder to your brownies for an even deeper, more complex chocolate flavor. Swirl them with peanut butter, cream cheese, or even pumpkin filling to mix things up. Mix in nuts, add a marshmallow topping, or spread on your favorite frostings for fun, simple, or seasonal twists.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Terrell Hackett

Last Updated:

Views: 5928

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (72 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Terrell Hackett

Birthday: 1992-03-17

Address: Suite 453 459 Gibson Squares, East Adriane, AK 71925-5692

Phone: +21811810803470

Job: Chief Representative

Hobby: Board games, Rock climbing, Ghost hunting, Origami, Kabaddi, Mushroom hunting, Gaming

Introduction: My name is Terrell Hackett, I am a gleaming, brainy, courageous, helpful, healthy, cooperative, graceful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.