This recipe for fudgy brownies is another throwback from my "young mom on the farm days." And it's another recipe from my husband's dear Aunt Martha. I introduced you to her in my post about lemon pie bars. She was a marvelous cook and giver of Juicy Fruit gum.
Our oldest granddaughter graduated from college last weekend, and I decided she needed these amazing brownies for her party.
This recipe uses cocoa, butter, eggs, and sugar and is iced with an incredible chocolate fudge frosting made with chocolate chips. You probably have everything on the shelf to make them right now. No brownie ever made a better base for a brownie sundae. Ever.
These brownies are easy to make and use the most basic pantry staples you probably have on hand. For the brownie, you'll need butter, sugar, cocoa, eggs, and vanilla; for the frosting, butter, sugar, milk, and chocolate chips.
The recipe makes a big batch because you bake them in a sheet pan, sometimes called a jelly roll pan. I used one that is ten by fifteen inches in size.
The brownies are rich and sweet, and a small portion is quite satisfying. For the party, I cut them into triangles to make them smaller, and I think they look extra festive.
The fudgy brownies are so simple to make, and there are only two things you can do wrong.
Number one: Don't overbake these brownies. They take only twenty minutes (or less) to bake, and they will firm up as they cool. The brownies are shiny and crinkly when baked, and in my opinion, they are pretty darn good without frosting!
Number two: Don't mess with the frosting after you pour it on the brownies.**
Begin by beating the butter, sugar, and vanilla together until it's nice and fluffy, then add the eggs. My egg lady, Steph raises happy chickens that lay delicious eggs with the most gorgeous deep yellow yolks because they get to roam freely and eat grass and weeds.
If you can find someone who sells "farm eggs," you will find there is a noticeable difference in the quality!
After beating the eggs into the sugar-butter mixture, mix in the cocoa powder, starting at low speed to avoid a flying chocolate mess.
Finally, add the flour. I found my good old Danish whisk was the perfect tool for the thick batter.
Spread the chocolatey batter onto a greased sheet pan and bake at 350 degrees for twenty minutes.
As soon as the fudgy brownies come out of the oven. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan and stir in the milk and sugar. Continue cooking the frosting over medium heat until it boils.
Boil it for just thirty seconds. I suggest you set a timer. Then, take the frosting off the stove and add the chocolate chips. Stir until the chips are completely melted and pour it quickly over the hot brownies.
Work fast with a spatula or the back of a spoon to coax the frosting to the edges of the pan, then stop touching it immediately.
**If you try to smooth out the frosting more, it can get grainy. Let it sit undisturbed until it is completely cool, then cut the brownies into desired serving-size pieces.
FULL DISCLOSURE: I almost always double the frosting recipe because, you know, more chocolate. I learned this from a former employee who was the world's biggest chocoholic ever.
These brownies keep well at room temperature if sealed in a good storage container with a tight-fitting lid. I usually cut them and stack them with wax paper between the layers.
It's not a big problem because they usually go pretty fast! These yummy fudgy brownies also freeze exceptionally well! In fact, it is often a good idea to hide them in the freezer! 😉
Here's an old-fashioned, from-scratch fudgy brownie made with simple pantry ingredients and frosted with a shiny, smooth fudge frosting.
I usually double the frosting recipe because, you know, more chocolate.
If you are a chocolate lover, just type chocolate in the search bar to find more yummy recipes!
If you liked this recipe, you are my people! Please share it on your social media accounts, such as Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter! It would sure tickle me, and I would be ever so grateful!
If you haven't already, please look for me on Facebook and Pinterest. I share easy, delicious, family-friendly recipes there every week!
Sign up for my newsletter and receive a free gift! A printable sign that would look great in your kitchen, framed above your sink, or just placed anywhere to remind us how lucky we are to have dirty dishes!
Sign up now!