These chewy brownies are loaded with deep, rich chocolate flavor, thanks to Special Dark cocoa powder and topped with a decadent, homemade chocolate buttercream frosting. They’re the perfect treat for all the chocolate lovers out there!
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There’s nothing better than brownies, if you ask me. These classic chocolate treats are rich, moist, and fudgy, and they’re perfect for any occasion. From baby showers to holiday parties, you can always find brownies on the table. They’re so delicious and so customizable that I make them for almost any occasion.
This particular recipe is one that I love to serve because it combines chocolaty brownie with equally chocolaty buttercream frosting for a dessert that is truly choco-licious. Everyone always loves them, and I love how easy they are to make.
Why You’ll Love These Chewy Fudgy Brownies
- Simple Ingredients: Everything you need to make these brownies is either in your kitchen right now or one quick trip to the grocery store away.
- Easy to Make: These brownies only take a little mixing and baking. After that, you frost them, and you’re done!
- Super Fudgy: The brownies are so moist and fudgy, you’d almost think they were underbaked. BUT they’re not.
- Rich and Chocolaty: With Special Dark cocoa powder in the batter and cocoa powder in the homemade buttercream, these brownies are super chocolaty and rich.
Ingredients
For the Brownies
- Special Dark Cocoa: Hershey Special Dark Cocoa gives the brownies a deep, rich chocolate flavor without bitterness.
- Butter and Eggs: Butter and eggs add the moisture and fat the batter needs to bake up super moist and chewy.
- Mini M&Ms: Mini M&Ms add more chocolaty flavor and a burst of color.
For the Frosting
- Cocoa Powder: Cocoa powder gives the frosting its chocolaty flavor while keeping it light and fluffy.
- Butter: Butter adds fat and the rich texture that’s the hallmark of buttercream frosting.
- Whole Milk: Whole milk allows you to adjust the texture of the frosting without losing that rich texture.
- Candy Sprinkles: Candy sprinkles are added on top of the frosting to create a final touch of colorful fun.
See the recipe card at the end of the post for a full list of ingredients and their exact amounts.
Flavor Variations
- Other Candies: Try other candies like Reese’s Pieces or your other favorite M&M flavors to change up the brownies.
- Frosting: You can use store-bought chocolate frosting if you want to skip making your own.
- Coffee: Add a splash of brewed strong coffee for even deeper flavor. Not too much or you’ll thin the batter.
How to Make this Chewy Chocolate Brownies Recipe
For the Brownies
1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray a brownie pan with non-stick cooking spray. Set it aside.
2: Whisk the dry ingredients together in a small bowl and set aside.
3: Mix the melted butter and sugars in a large bowl. Then, add the eggs and vanilla and mix until combined.
4: Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix until just combined. Then, fold in the mini M&Ms.
5: Spoon the batter into the brownie pan and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean.
6: Set the baked brownies aside to cool completely before frosting.
For the Frosting
1: Beat the butter and cocoa powder until combined in a medium bowl.
2: Gradually mix in half the powdered sugar and half the milk. Then, beat in the remaining powdered sugar and milk.
3: Add the vanilla and beat until rich and creamy.
4: Frost the brownies when they’ve cooled completely, then cut them into squares and enjoy.
Hint
For the softest, chewiest brownies, mix the wet and dry ingredients until just combined and no further. This limits the formation of gluten, which will make the brownies dense and tough.
Storage
Store these brownies at room temperature for up to 3 days in an air-tight container. If you don’t think you can eat the leftovers in that time period, you can refrigerate them for up to a week. Be aware that refrigerating them will dry them out a bit.
For longer storage, wrap the brownies in plastic wrap and freeze them for up to 3 months. Defrost them overnight in the refrigerator, then bring them to room temperature before serving.
What to Serve with Fudgy Chewy Brownies
Like all brownies, these are great with a glass of milk or a cup of coffee or tea. They also make a great addition to a larger dessert spread with other chocolate desserts, as well as fruity options. Try pairing them with blueberry cream cheese puff pastries, chocolate caramel cashew clusters, or maple candied pecans.
Tips
- Use a large microwaveable bowl to mix your wet ingredients. That way, you can simply melt the butter in the microwave and save a dish.
- Mix your brownie batter ingredients until just combined. This limits the formation of gluten, which makes the brownies tough and dense.
- You MUST let your brownies cool completely before frosting them. Other wise the frosting will become runny on contact.
- An electric mixer or stand mixer is the easiest way to whip up fluffy buttercream frosting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Just combined means that the wet and dry ingredients in a batter have been mixed until the dry ingredients are moistened. The batter will usually be lumpy, which is totally okay.
Overmixing brownie, cake, cupcake, or quick bread batter results in the formation of too much gluten. Gluten is a protein found in flour that contracts when baked. This contraction makes baked goods tough and dense rather than soft and chewy.
Usually, no. But frosted brownies need to be refrigerated. Buttercream frosted brownies only need to be refrigerated if they won’t be eaten within 3 days. However, brownies with cream cheese in the brownies themselves or in the frosting must be refrigerated at all times.
Add a piece of white bread to your container when storing brownies. The moisture in the bread will keep the brownies from drying out.
Hershey’s Special Dark cocoa powder is a Dutched cocoa powder that gives baked goods super deep chocolate flavor without added bitterness.
Try These Chewy Brownies Today
With a super chewy texture and a deep chocolate flavor, these chewy brownies would be a hit on their own, but I didn’t stop there. By adding rich chocolate buttercream frosting, I’ve made these brownies the most choco-licious treats you’ll ever make. With so much chocolaty flavor and such an easy recipe, you have to try them. Make them just once, and I know you’ll fall in love.
More Delicious Brownie Recipes You’ll Enjoy
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Chewy Brownies
Ingredients
Chewy Brownies
- ½ cup all purpose flour
- ½ cup special dark cocoa powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ cup butter
- ½ cup brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup mini M&Ms
Chocolate Frosting
- ¼ cup butter, room temperature
- ⅓ cup cocoa powder
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons whole milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Optional: candy sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray a brownie pan with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
Chewy Brownies
- In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking soda. Set aside.
- In a large, microwave-safe bowl, melt butter. Add brown sugar and granulated sugar to the butter and mix until well combined.
- Next, add the eggs and vanilla extract. Stir until fully incorporated.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix just until the dry ingredients are fully incorporated.
- Add the mini M&Ms, stir.
- Spoon batter into the prepared brownie pan and bake for 10-15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean.
- Remove from the oven and let brownies cool completely before adding the frosting
Chocolate Frosting
- In a medium bowl, add butter and cocoa powder and mix until combined.
- Gradually add half of the powdered sugar and half of the milk into the bowl and beat, then add remaining powdered sugar and milk and beat until combined.
- Pour vanilla into the mixture and beat until incorporated.
- Frost brownies once they have cooled completely.
- Optional: Top with sprinkles of your choice.
Notes
- Use a large microwaveable bowl to mix your wet ingredients. That way, you can simply melt the butter in the microwave and save a dish.
- Mix your brownie batter ingredients until just combined. This limits the formation of gluten, which makes the brownies tough and dense.
- You MUST let your brownies cool completely before frosting them. Other wise the frosting will become runny on contact.
- An electric mixer or stand mixer is the easiest way to whip up fluffy buttercream frosting.
Nutrition
