When I was a kid, I didn’t like brownies. Shocking, I know. I was a strange kid. But now, looking back, I feel like the reason I never really cared for brownies was probably because when I did try them, they were just some dry, crusty ones from a boxed mix. Not saying that all boxed mix brownies are bad, but there is certainly something…well…boxed-mixy about them. Sort of bland, perhaps?

Well anyway, I don’t really remember how it happened, but one summer I decided to try and make my own brownies. I found this recipe, baked a pan for a summer trip to Phoenix with the fam, and found that I had discovered what brownies should really taste like. My goodness, these brownies are still some of the softest, most chocolatey bites of heaven that I’ve ever tasted! The cocoa frosting on top compliments these soft brownies so perfectly. I must say, it is a dangerous thing for my husband and I to be quarantined inside with a full pan of these bad boys…

To make these brownies, you’ll need lots of butter, sugar, and cocoa, the best ingredients around! First, bake up the brownies, and while they cool, you can prepare the frosting. *Once the brownies had been cooling on a wire rack for a while, I threw my pan of brownies in the freezer for a few minutes to speed up the cooling process.* When you’ve made the frosting and the brownies are cooled completely, evenly spread the frosting over the top. You can leave them as is, or (if you’re feeling festive), feel free to adorn your brownies with a light shower of sprinkles.

I promise you, these delicious brownies will far exceed any boxed brownie horrors you may have experienced in the past 😉 Enjoy!

Chocolate Frosted Brownies

For the Brownies:

• 1 cup + 3 tablespoons butter, cubed
• 3/4 cup baking cocoa
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 1/2 cups flour (Add an additional 1/4 cup for high-altitude)
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

For the Cocoa Frosting:

• 6 tablespoons butter, softened
• 2 2/3 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup baking cocoa
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4-1/3 cup milk

For the Brownies:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a saucepan or a microwave-safe bowl, melt butter. Stir in cocoa and let mixture cool.
3. In a large bowl, combine eggs and sugar until fully mixed.
4. Combine flour, baking soda and salt. Gradually add dry ingredients to egg mixture.
5. Stir in vanilla and cooled chocolate mixture until thoroughly combined.
6. Grease a 9″x13″ pan and spread batter evenly into it.
7. Bake brownies 25-30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
8. Cool completely.

For the Frosting:

1. In a large bowl, combine butter and powdered sugar.
2. Mix in cocoa and vanilla.
3. Add in milk until the desired consistency is reached.
4. Spread over cooled brownies.
5. Immediately add sprinkles of choice (optional).

Makes one 9″x13″ pan of brownies (about 2 dozen)