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Frosted Fudge Brownies

· Modified: by · This post may contain affiliate links · 26 Comments

Frosted Fudge Brownies is a recipe based on one from a little Hershey's book I brought home from a trip to Pennsylvania. The original title was"Best Fudgy Brownies". I think it was spelled "Fudgey" with an "e" but I lost the booklet. Luckily I did type up an adapted version. The first time I made them I noted they were a bit salty, but I think that was just my perception because I was recovering from a cold. Or maybe I slipped the salt in twice?

Frosted Fudge
Frosted Fudge Brownies

The texture of these brownies is "in-between" so not to cakey and not too chewy. For chewy brownies that also have frosting, I recommend the recipe in the link, which is also an older one. It's recognizable by the step where you add the butter in two parts and incorporate boiling water. For some reason those frosted fudge brownies are a little chewier than these. But both recipes are good!

Frosted Fudge Brownies Tips

  • You can skip the cooking spray and just line the pan with parchment paper or nonstick foil. This makes it easier to lift the brownies from the pan.
  • I usually just heat the butter directly in my microwave-safe mixing bowl, but you can melt the butter in any bowl and just pour it in.
  • Natural cocoa powder should make the brownies a little bouncier, but you can use Dutch process if you prefer it. I think these are better with natural.
  • For the frosting, sift the powdered sugar if it is very lumpy.

Recipe

Brownies

Frosted Fudge Brownies

Anna
Rich fudge brownies with a cooked fudge frosting.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 16

Ingredients
 

  • 4 oz unsalted butter (114 grams)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar (200 grams)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • ¼ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoons salt (scant)
  • ½ cup all purpose flour (65 grams)
  • ⅓ cup Hershey’s natural cocoa, not Dutch
  • ½ cup chopped pecans optional

Frosting (Note at Bottom)

  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 ⅓ cups powdered sugar (160 grams)
  • 3 tablespoons butter (42 grams)
  • 2 tablespoons milk (28 grams)
  • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ cup chopped pecans optional or 9 pecan halves

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 F. Line an 8 inch metal pan with foil and mist the bottom with cooking spray.
  • Melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Whisk in the sugar, then whisk in the eggs and vanilla. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, salt and cocoa powder. Gradually add flour mixture to the batter. Stir in the pecans (if using). Pour into pan and bake for 20-25 minutes (I baked for 20). Pull from oven and make frosting.
  • Frosting: Stir together cocoa powder and powdered sugar. If you have time, you might want to sift it. Melt the butter in a saucepan. Add the milk. Stir it into the chocolate/sugar mixture. Stir in the vanilla. Add pecans if using. Pour over the warm brownies and kind of spread it a little to cover. Garnish with pecan halves.
  • Let brownies cool completely, then chill for several hours (this makes them easier to cut and neater). Lift from pan, set on a cutting board, trim edges and cut into squares.

Notes

Here's another method for making the frosting. I sometimes use the one above, and I sometimes use this one depending on my mood. I think this one's a little smoother.

Fudge Frosting

  • 1 ⅓ cups confectioners’ sugar
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened natural cocoa powder, Dutch okay
  • 2 ½ tablespoons milk
  • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
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Sift the confectioners’ sugar into a mixing bowl and set aside. You can skip the sifting step if you must, but sifting helps it to blend easier and the icing will be smoother. Melt the butter in a saucepan set over medium heat. When butter is almost melted, add the cocoa and milk and bring just to a boil. As soon as the mixture reaches a good boil, remove from heat. Pour the hot boiling cocoa mixture into the bowl of sifted confectioners’ sugar. Add the vanilla and stir with a wooden spoon until smooth. Work quickly so that icing won’t start to set in the bowl. Pour over the brownies and let sit until firm.
Keyword Frosted Fudge Brownies
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

More Brownies that are Fudgy

Comments

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  1. Ellen says

    I have one question, about the frosting. When you say, add the milk and stir in chocolate/sugar mixture, you mean in the sausepan right??

  2. Sarah Lynn says

    I've made these twice within the span of a week, and they are fabulous! Even my husband, who has always preferred a boxed brownie mix to any brownies I make from scratch, gave them the seal of approval.

  3. Robbie says

    In all my years of baking, I've never frosted brownies, but your enthusiasm has inspired me. These are in the oven now.

  4. Anna says

    Lostsock, I'm so glad you like Murray's recipe! As for this one, they're less chewy (Murray's are supposed to be with the extra stirring), slightly softer, maybe a little denser? And then of course the icing changes the texture. I like the frosted brownies because of the texture contrasts.

    Sue, thanks for making them. The icing is really similar to the one I use on Texas Sheet Cake, but the technique is slightly different. The Texas Sheet Cake icing was pourable while I had to spread this a little. I may try using the Texas Sheet Cake icing on my next batch. I may make more of these today.

  5. Sue says

    We like these a lot! They're nice and moist and chocolatey, and you get that nice sugar rush from the frosting. The frosting sort of reminds me of the frosting on Texas Sheet Cake.

  6. Lostsock says

    How would you compare these to the Murray Jaffes perfect brownie. I have been making those ever since you posted the recipe and everyone loves the soft cheweyness(very technical term) of them.

  7. Sue says

    Thanks! That's what I preheated to so they're going in now. Like we need brownies.....

  8. Anna says

    No, it was me! Sorry, Sue. Temp is 350F.

  9. Sue says

    Hi Anna!
    I'm going to the kitchen right now to mix these together. I don't see what temperature you baked these at. It could just be me.

  10. Jennifer says

    I don't make brownies that often. For a long time, I struggled with getting the "crust" right at the top. Those look delicious though! I'm also jealous of your Hershey, PA, trip. I think it'd be soooo fun!

  11. Judy says

    Perhaps the taste you can't get rid of is caused by a sinus infection?

  12. Terri A. says

    I always like the look of brownies with frosting, but like the taste of brownies without better. Maybe have to try this one, though to compare.

  13. Katrina says

    Hmm, I just might give these a bakin' tomorrow to take to the neighbors who have a new baby. They look great.

  14. Melissa says

    This looks delicious! I love brownies!

  15. Angela says

    These brownies remind me of the ones sold at Bill Miller's BBQ Restaurant. I've loved them since I was a kid, so I'm definitely a brownie frosting type of girl.

  16. Linda says

    Hi Anna, If you get a chance, and there are any brownies left after a day or so, let us know how the frosting "held up". I've never been happy with any of the frostings I've tried on brownies - they always seem to dry out. This year, for brownies I made as Christmas gifts, I put Hershey's Milk Chocolate bars on the brownies as soon as they came out of the oven. Obviously, the chocolate melted on it's own, then I spread it out evenly. I was pretty happy with the results - the chocolate hardened enough that the brownies weren't messy, it didn't dry out, it looked nice, and it helped keep the brownies fresh. The recipients all seemed pretty happy with them, too!

  17. melissa says

    I've never had a frosted brownie before. And I never get tired of seeing your brownie recipes!

  18. vanillasugar says

    anna you know i've been trying (unsuccessfully) to deep fry brownies. one of these days i'll get it right. i love having frosting on my brownies.

  19. Esther says

    I have to try this out one day. I love your brownie recipes. I'm so glad that the frosting doesn't have any heavy cream because I don't have any at the moment.

  21. Michelle says

    These look excellent! I love my brownies with frosting, but my husband is the opposite. He always scrapes his off onto my plate...no complaints here! 😉

  22. Ram says

    I love brownies! Filled, topped of plain. Thanks for this post. My favorite brownies are the fudgy ones. No cakey brownie for me.

  23. Helena says

    Please keep making brownies, I love them!!
    I just wanted to ask, is it worth it to make the frosting? I love my brownies simple & without any fuss, but now you planted the idea of brownie-frosting in my head 🙂

  24. HeartofGlass says

    I've been brownie obsessed lately! There is something very addictive about the ease of making brownies, yet the fact that every recipe is slightly different makes me want to tinker...I like the all cocoa powder ones, especially during the snowy winter, when I can't go out if I'm missing one kind of chocolate...

  25. LisAway says

    Get well! These sound do delicious. It may have something to do with the fact that I'm on a diet. Or that brownies are my favorite thing ever. . .

  26. Sue says

    Sorry you've had a cold. Me too! I can't shake it completely.
    I've had brownies on the brain lately. I was thinking about making the Alice Medrich brownies you posted, but somehow these look like they would hit the spot in a more satisfying way, and I don't usually go for frosting on my brownies! So glad you broadened your horizons here. 🙂