Chocolate Buttercream Brownies

Super simple treat in a pinch!  Box of brownie mix. . .and a good old homemade buttercream.  I LOVE how thick the frosting layer is.  Pop them in the fridge for a few hours before serving to make them they cut really well. . .and taste even better!


Chocolate Buttercream

2 sticks of butter
5ish cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup cocoa
1 tsp vanilla extract
pinch of salt
1/2 cup milk

Bake a box of brownie mix. . . and let it cool completely.  In a mixing bowl, combine all the buttercream ingredients together and beat until light and fluffy!  Add more  milk if needed to get the desired texture.  You want the buttercream to be thick!  Frost, and refrigerate until serving!

Homemade Brownie Recipe

Homemade Brownies. . .There's nothing better! This is the recipe my mom always made when we were kids. They're favorite of my dad's, and my husbands! Once you try a real brownie. . .the box just won't cut it anymore!

Homemade Brownie Recipe

2 cups of sugar

1 cup of butter

4 eggs

4 squares of unsweetened melted chocolate

1 tsp salt

2 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 cups flour

1. Cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

2. Add eggs one at a time, making sure they are fully incorporated.

3. Slowly drizzle in melted chocolate.

4. Add in flour, salt, and vanilla.

5. Pour into a 9 x 13 pan sprayed with non stick cooking spray.

6. Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes.

S'mores Brownies

S'mores Brownies

2 pkgs. graham crackers, (packs, not boxes) crushed

10 Tbsp melted butter

4 Tbsp sugar

1 box brownie mix plus ingredients to prepare.

6 Hershey's bars

1 bag of large marshmallows

1. Mix together crackers, butter, and sugar and pat into the bottom of a 9x13 pan.

2. Bake at 350 for about 10 minutes.

3. Prepare brownie mix as directed on box and pour over the crust.

4. Bake as directed on box.

5. When brownies are still hot top with Hershey's Bars and let melt. Once chocolate is melted spread evenly over the brownie.

6. Cut marshmallows in half and arrange evenly over chocolate.

7. Put under broiler for about 3 minutes or until marshmallows are toasted. (They'll smell FANTASTIC!)

8. Cool, and cut with a plastic knife. (Plastic knife makes nice even cuts and doesn't mess up the marshmallow layer.) Enjoy!

Rocky Road Brownies

Who doesn't like brownies, I mean really. Does it get much better than a gooey, chocolatey, brownie?

Oh Yes It DOES!!! Toss some marshmallows, chocolate chips, and peanuts on top and you have yourself some simple decadence.

My mom used to bake these all the time when we were little kids. They are simple, tasty, and a favorite quick treat of all of ours. We usually have all the ingredients on hand to make these on any given day, however, I rarely do. So when I threw these together the other day, I couldn't keep everyone's hands off them!

Rocky Road Brownies

1 pkg. Family Size Fudge Brownie Mix, plus ingredients to make
1 bag small marshmallows
1 cup chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups peanuts

1. Mix brownie batter as directed on package. Spread in a 9 x 13 baking pan.

2. Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes.

3. Take hot brownies out of the oven and sprinkle with marshmallows. Top with chocoalte chips and peanuts.

4. Put brownies back in the oven for about 5 more minutes.

5. Take brownies out of oven and and let cool completely.

Rolo Brownie Buttons

Rolo Brownie Buttons

1 box brownie mix (9 x 13 size) plus ingredients to prepare
1 bag of Rolo Candies

1. Line mini muffin pan with paper wrappers.

2. Prepare brownie batter as directed on box

3. Spoon 1 Tbsp of brownie batter into each paper cup.

4. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.

5. Press Rolo into center of brownie, and pop back in the oven for a few more seconds for the candy to melt a bit.

Peanut Butter Brownie Trifle

Yet another Taste of Home recipe. Got last months magazine and there were TONS of great recipes to try in there. This one was good but rich! It's peanut butter, and it's chocolate. I don't know what more to say. . .I mean really, is it even possible to go wrong with peanut butter and chocolate?

Peanut Butter Brownie Trifle

1 box family size brownie mix, prepared and cut into 1" cubes.
2 bags of Reese's Peanut Butter cups, unwrapped and cut into fourths. (Saving 4 cups for garnsih.)
2 small boxes instant vanilla pudding
4 cups milk
1 cup peanut butter
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
1 large container of Cool Whip (Reserving 1/2 cup for garnish.)

1. Layer 1/3 of the brownie cubes in the bottom of a Trifle Bowl.

2. Top with 1/3 of the peanut butter cups.

3. In a large bowl, mix together pudding and milk.

4. Stir Peanut butter and vanilla extract into the pudding mixture.

5. Fold Cool Whip into the peanut butter pudding mixture.

6. Top brownies and peanut butter cups with 1/3 of the pudding mixture.

7. Repeat layers two more times.

8. Garnish top of trifle with additional cool whip and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.

Gooey Caramel Brownies

OK, so a few days ago I was DYING for melty, yummy, chocolatey, treat. That same day I had grabbed some caramels from the store, (was thinking apples at the time.) We've all seen the classic recipes for caramel brownies that start with a chocolate cake mix, butter, evaporated milk, and caramels. Well, I had no cake mix and I had no butter. I did however, have a brownie mix and evaporated milk. . . not to mention the caramels for those apples I intended to make. I decided to attempt a quick and easy treat, with a gooey, caramely, center. Mixed 'em up, tossed 'em in the oven, and crossed my fingers. WOW! So good! The brownie was perfectly cooked, and the caramel was great. The only thing I'd do different next time. . .top with chopped, salted peanuts.

Gooey Caramel Brownies

1 pkg family size brownie mix, plus ingredients to prepare
1 bag of Kraft caramels
1/4 cup evaporated milk
1 cup mini chocolate chips

1. Prepare brownie mix as directed on package.

2. Spray a 9 x 13 pan with Pam for Baking.

3. Pour half of the brownie batter into the 9 x 13 pan and bake at 350 for 10 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, in a microwave safe bowl, melt together the caramels and evaporated milk.

5. Sprinkle chocolate chips over baked portion of brownie batter, and then top with melted caramel.
6. Spoon the rest of the brownie batter over the caramel, swirl, and bake at 350 for 20 to 25 more minutes.

Peanut Butter Brownies

Peanut Butter Brownies

1 pkg. Brownie mix of choice. (9 x 13 or Family Size) plus ingredients to make
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup peanut butter
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 or 3 Tbsp milk
Reese's Pieces!

1. Prepare brownies as directed on package. Let cool completely.

2. Cut brownies into 1" to 1 1/2" squares. (This works best using a plastic knife. Brownie will not stick to knife which will help create a clean cut.)

3. Mix together butter, peanut butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla.

4. Stir in milk.

5. Whip frosting till it's light and fluffy.

6. Pipe a dollop of frosting onto each square and top with a Reese's Pieces piece.

NOTE: The top photo is in bar form, but I usually make these as "Bite Size." (Pictured Below.)

Cheesecake Brownies

The only thing better than a brownie. . .is a brownie with cheesecake on top! That's exactly what this is! A gooey, fudgey, chocolate brownie with a thick, dense creamy cheesecake layer on top. It is so good. Believe it or not, I'm not a huge brownie fan. I prefer my chocolate in candy form (Snickers to be exact!) But you toss some cheesecake on top and it's as good as gone!

Cheesecake Brownies

1 box brownie mix plus ingredients to prepare
2 8oz bricks of cream cheese
2/3 cup sugar
2 eggs
3 Tbsp flour
2 tsp vanilla extract

1. Prepare brownie mix as per directions on box.

2. Spread brownie batter in a 9 x 13 pan

3. Mix together cream cheese and sugar

4. Add eggs one at a time, mix well after each addition

5. Mix in flour and vanilla

6. Mix cheesecake batter until smooth and creamy.

7. Spoon cheesecake over brownie batter

8. Spread cheesecake evenly over brownie batter forming a solid top

9. With a knife, swirl cheesecake batter with brownie. ( I like to swirl it lightly. I like a thick cheesecake layer on top, versus mixed into the brownies.)
10. Bake at 350 for about 30-35 minutes. Edges should be puffy and lightly browned and middle should be just set.