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Brownies with Fudge Frosting (Optionally Mint)

Now I want to eat more of them.

This recipe is not even remotely healthy.

But it's really delicious, and there is a time and place for brownies, and I want to make sure I never lose this recipe.

I've actually been making this recipe since college. I think my junior year roommate found it, and we were on board because it's easy and it was labeled Best Brownies, which seemed like it couldn't be bad.

They are super rich and chocolatey and decadent. They keep well, and taste best on the 2nd or 3rd day, if you can possibly wait that long to finish them. 

On a whim for a holiday party, I added some peppermint extract to the fudge topping, and it was a success. I bet other flavors (orange? almond? HAZELNUT?) would work too.


The Recipe: (taken from AllRecipes.com)
1/2c butter
1c sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/3c unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2c flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking powder

For the frosting:
3 tb butter
3 tb unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tb honey
1 tsp vanilla extract
1c powdered sugar
peppermint or other extract, to taste (optional)

  • Melt 1/2 c butter in microwave.
  • Mix in sugar, vanilla extract, cocoa powder, and eggs (make sure it's not too hot for the eggs)
  • Mix in flour, salt, and baking powder
  • Pour into a greased 9x9 pan.
  • Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes, removing as soon as the center is not wet.
  • Mix together the frosting ingredients, adding more honey if necessary for the consistency.
  • Frost the brownies while warm. My technique is to place small droplets of frosting around the top of the warm brownies, wait a moment, and then spread it out gently with a spatula as it starts to melt. If there is not enough melting action happening, I sometimes put it in the warm oven for a minute and then finish spreading out the frosting.
  • Chill and cut.

The Verdict:
Overall grade: A
Overall reason: Delicious enough to make up for the unhealthiness. 
Time to prepare: 1 hour, plus cooling
Husband quote: "So good."
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