Frosted Fudge Brownies

Total Time

Prep: 10 min. + cooling Bake: 25 min. + cooling

Makes

2 dozen

Updated: Dec. 09, 2023
A neighbor brought over a pan of these rich fudge brownies along with the recipe when I came home from the hospital with our baby daughter. I asked her how to make brownie frosting like that, and I've made them ever since for family occasions, potlucks and parties at work. —Sue Soderlund, Elgin, Illinois
Frosted Fudge Brownies Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Ingredients

  • 1 cup plus 3 tablespoons butter, cubed
  • 3/4 cup baking cocoa
  • 4 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • FROSTING:
  • 6 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 2-2/3 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 1/2 cup baking cocoa
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 to 1/3 cup 2% milk

Directions

  1. In a saucepan, melt butter. Remove from the heat. Stir in cocoa; cool. In a large bowl, beat eggs and sugar until blended. Combine flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to egg mixture. Stir in vanilla and the cooled chocolate mixture until well blended.
  2. Spread into a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 25-28 minutes (do not overbake). Cool on a wire rack.
  3. For frosting, in a large bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in cocoa and vanilla. Add enough milk for the frosting to achieve spreading consistency. Spread over brownies. Cut into bars.

Test Kitchen tips
  • Unless otherwise specified, Taste of Home recipes are tested with lightly salted butter. Unsalted, or sweet, butter is sometimes used to achieve a buttery flavor, such as in shortbread cookies or buttercream frosting. In these recipes, added salt would detract from the buttery taste desired.
  • Dutch process cocoa has been treated with an alkaline solution in its manufacture. It has a smoother, richer flavor and darker color than regular cocoa. Baked goods made with it are a more intense chocolate brown color than those made with regular cocoa.
  • You should be making these unbeatable brownie recipes.
  • Nutrition Facts

    1 brownie: 277 calories, 13g fat (8g saturated fat), 68mg cholesterol, 248mg sodium, 39g carbohydrate (29g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein.