I have been quite busy lately and feel like I am being pulled in many different directions. My coping mechanism is brownies with frosting. Many years of stress have led me to perfect several different frostings. I have shared these recipes before (I have even reduced the Mocha Fudge frosting to 140 characters and tweeted it to a fellow blogger) but thought that perhaps somebody else out there might also be overworked and in need of an easy, delicious mood booster. 🙂
I try to avoid controversial subjects on my blog, so I am not going to debate chewy versus dry cakelike brownies. Nor am I going to engage in an argument about the merits of naked brownies. I am going to assume that the purists were scared off by my title, and that I am talking to kindred spirits. So let’s discuss our favorite ways to frost brownies. Below are my family’s current favorites, which all make enough to cover a 13 x 9 pan of brownies. Leave a link or a recipe for your favorite brownie frosting in the comment section. I wonder how many ways we can come up with to frost a brownie…
My oldest son and my husband like their brownies frosted with Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Frosting.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Frosting
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 1/2 cup brown sugar packed
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup all-purpose flour*
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars. Stir in milk and vanilla. Gradually add in flour. Stir in chocolate chips. Spread over cooled brownies.
Notes
When given the choice my daughter is torn between Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Frosting and Peanut Butter Frosting.
Peanut Butter Frosting
Ingredients
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 – 1/3 cup milk
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, beat peanut butter, butter, and powdered sugar together. Stir in milk until the mixture reaches the desired spreading consistency. Spread over cooled brownies.
My friend Robin shared her favorite frosting for brownies: Cinnamon Cocoa brownies. She says she adds a teaspoon of cinnamon to her brownie recipe to create Cinnamon Cocoa Brownies.
Cinnamon Cocoa Frosting Recipe
Ingredients:
- 6 tablespoons butter, softened
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1/3 cup milk
Directions:
- Combine butter, cocoa, cinnamon, and vanilla.
- Alternate adding powdered sugar and milk.
- Beat until it reaches a desired spreading consistency.
- Spread over cooled brownies.
- Here are a few more ideas:
Printable Recipe for Cinnamon Cocoa Frosting
Cinnamon Cocoa Frosting Recipe
Ingredients
- Ingredients:
- 6 tablespoons butter softened
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1/3 cup milk
Instructions
- Combine butter, cocoa, cinnamon, and vanilla.
- Alternate adding powdered sugar and milk.
- Beat until it reaches a desired spreading consistency.
- Spread over cooled brownies.
Some Other Brownie Frosting Ideas
When I want to create truly decadent brownies, I cover them with Mocha Fudge Frosting and then sprinkle them with chopped pecans.
Easiest brownie frosting ever: When your brownies come out of the oven, cover the top with York peppermint patties. Let the patties melt, use a knife and frost the top with the melted chocolate and mint and let set.
You can use Cola Frosting from Cola Cake Recipe
For an unusual variation try Fluffy Buttercream Frosting, if you really want something exotic: Chai Spiced Frosting.
How do you frost your brownies?
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Erin says
Does anyone know if you can frost brownies and then freeze them? I want to have them ready to go for my son’s baptism. Thanks!
Alea says
Yes, you can freeze brownies after you have frosted them. Just remember it will take time for them to thaw and because of the frosting you can’t rush the process.
Laura says
Easiest brownie frosting ever: When your brownies come out of the oven, cover the top with York peppermint patties. Let the patties melt, use a knife and frost the top with the melted chocolate and mint and let set.
Of course you have to like chocolate mint . . . .
e-Mom says
Dropping in from the Blog Hop… chocolate chip cookie dough frosting on brownies sounds positively outrageous!
Blessings, e-Mom @ Susannah's {Kitchen}
Rebecca says
We just made Cola Brownies…You know, the hardest part is finding someone to polish off that opened can of Pepsi! (ha!)
Elsa says
I love chewy brownies with frosting! My mom always added frosting to her brownies, so now I do the same. And honestly, I think my love for cooking grew from stress. 🙂
Miriam says
I love this post, so delicious :). Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters
Shana says
Yummy! I love some frosted brownies and have to agree that chewy is the best.
Rebecca says
On your way to find 50 ways:
Cola Frosting:
3 T butter – melt in saucepan
2 T cocoa – stir in 'til dissolved
Add:
1 1/2 c powdered sugar
2 T Coke or Pepsi
1 t vanilla
Stir until smooth, pour over warm brownies, let set until firm.
This is good over a brownie mix that has been made according to package directions, but substituting Pepsi or Coke for the water in the recipe.
Pam says
You know what? I never frost my brownies. Must remedy that.
tamilyn says
Always good to have many frostings in the arsenal 🙂
Dede says
My husband would love that Mocha Fudge Frosting! Thanks for following my blogs:
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I am returning the favor and am your newest follower 🙂 Sorry, I don't have Twitter, but do have a Facebook.
Have a great night!!
Dede
Hodgepodgemom says
Mocha Fudge Frosting!! All of these look fabulous. (The children and I made microwave fudge this afternoon 🙂
Elizabeth says
I have a favorite frosted brownie recipe, mostly because it has two toppings! First, baked and cooled brownies are topped with a butter-powdered sugar-mint combo, then chilled, then topped with a chocolate ganache. Super yummy! Here's the link: http://theunemployedlibrarian.blogspot.com/2010/03/recipe-creme-de-menthe-brownies.html
Melissa says
Oh, where to begin!? As soon as I get my new dishwasher, I can't wait to BAKE! Brownies sound like a perfect place to start, but I don't know how I can choose just ONE of those frostings!
Annie Jones says
Well, I do have my preferences (chewy, naked), but that mocha fudge frosting sounds pretty darn good!
21st Century Housewife© says
Alea, these brownie frostings look amazing. I've bookmarked your post. I've never heard of cookie dough frosting before but what a fantastic idea! I can't wait to try it!
Thank you for adding the blog hop to your site. I really appreciate your support 🙂
Have a lovely weekend!!