When you’re craving a rich, chocolatey dessert that never disappoints, these Better Brownies are the perfect choice. They bake up with a wonderfully fudgy center, lightly crisp edges, and deep cocoa flavor that rivals any bakery-style brownie. Best of all, they’re made with simple pantry ingredients and come together in less than an hour.
What truly makes these brownies stand out is the silky homemade chocolate frosting spread over the warm brownies as they cool. The frosting melts slightly into the top, creating an irresistibly soft, chocolate-loaded finish that’s perfect for birthdays, bake sales, holidays, or simply satisfying a sweet tooth any day of the week.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 16 brownies
Ingredients
For the Brownies
- ½ cup butter
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- â…“ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
For the Chocolate Frosting
- 3 tablespoons butter, softened
- 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
Directions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and lightly flour an 8-inch square baking pan.
- In a large saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the granulated sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract until smooth and well combined.
- Add the cocoa powder, flour, salt, and baking powder. Stir just until everything is incorporated and a thick brownie batter forms.
- Spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking pan using a spatula.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the top looks dry and the edges begin pulling away from the sides of the pan. Avoid overbaking to keep the brownies wonderfully fudgy.
- Allow the brownies to cool for about 10 minutes while preparing the frosting.
- In a medium bowl, combine the softened butter, cocoa powder, honey, vanilla extract, and confectioners’ sugar. Stir until smooth and creamy. If needed, add a teaspoon of milk to reach your preferred spreading consistency.
- Spread the frosting evenly over the still slightly warm brownies. Let the frosting set before slicing into 16 squares and serving.
Chef’s Notes
- For extra fudgy brownies, remove them from the oven as soon as a toothpick inserted near the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
- Allow the brownies to cool completely before cutting for the cleanest slices.
- Add chopped walnuts, pecans, or chocolate chips to the batter for extra texture and flavor.
- Store brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days, or refrigerate for up to a week.
- These brownies also freeze beautifully for up to 3 months. Simply thaw at room temperature before serving.