Frosted Brownie recipe makes classic brownies topped with rich, sweet chocolate buttercream frosting.
These brownies are crazy good. The brownies are chewy at the edges and perfectly cakey/fudgy in the middle.
And the frosting! The frosting is delicious. It’s so rich and has just the right amount of sweetness. Do yourself a favor, and make these brownies!
What you’ll need to make frosted brownies
- Butter: I use salted butter in this recipe.
- Granulated sugar
- Large eggs
- Vanilla extract
- All-purpose flour: Be sure to properly measure the flour. To properly measure the flour, either weigh it (click on “metric” under the ingredients for the weights), or sift/stir the flour to break it up. Then lightly spoon into the measuring cup. Too much flour will give you dense, cakey brownies.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder
- Salt
- Cream cheese: I recommend using full-fat cream cheese.
- Milk: Any type of milk will work. Heavy cream will also work, but it will give you lighter, fluffier frosting.
- Powdered sugar: Sift your frosting before using if it’s lumpy.
How to make frosted brownies
Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
Step 2: In a large saucepan, melt butter.
Step 3: Whisk in sugar until combined.
Step 4: Add eggs and vanilla; whisk until just incorporated.
Step 5: Stir in flour, cocoa powder, and salt until just combined.
Step 6: Pour batter into prepared baking dish.
Step 7: Bake for 20-30 minutes, or until edges are set and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with fudgy crumbs.
Step 8: When the brownies are finished baking, start the frosting. Beat together butter and cream cheese until well-combined.
Step 9: Add milk, cocoa powder, and powdered sugar. Stir in until well-combined.
Step 10: Spread frosting over warm (not hot) brownies.
Tips
- Mix the brownies by hand: Mixing the brownies by hand will give you fudgier brownies. If you use a hand mixer to mix the batter, you may end up with cakier brownies.
- Fudgy crumbs: For fudgier brownies, be sure to take the brownies out of the oven while they have fudgy crumbs on the toothpick. Baking the brownies until the toothpick comes out clean will give you cakey brownies.
- Warm, not hot: It’s important that the brownies aren’t hot when you add the frosting or it will melt.
- Chill them! Chilling the brownies will give you fudgier brownies.
- Toppings: Feel free to sprinkle chopped nuts or sprinkles on top of the frosting.
Storage
Any leftover brownies should be covered and stored in the refrigerator. The brownies will keep for up to 4 days when properly stored in the fridge.
More brownie recipes!
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Frosted Brownie Recipe
Ingredients
Brownies
- 1 cup butter
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Frosting
- 1/4 cup butter softened
- 2 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- In a large saucepan, melt butter.
- Whisk in sugar until combined.
- Add eggs and vanilla; whisk until just incorporated.
- Stir in flour, cocoa powder, and salt until just combined.
- Pour batter into prepared baking dish.
- Bake for 20-30 minutes, or until edges are set and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with fudgy crumbs.
- When the brownies are finished baking, start the frosting.
- Beat together butter and cream cheese until well-combined.
- Add milk, cocoa powder, and powdered sugar. Stir in until well-combined.
- Spread frosting over warm (not hot) brownies.
Notes
- Butter: I use salted butter in this recipe.
- All-purpose flour: Be sure to properly measure the flour. To properly measure the flour, either weigh it (click on “metric” under the ingredients for the weights), or sift/stir the flour to break it up. Then lightly spoon into the measuring cup. Too much flour will give you dense, cakey brownies.
- Cream cheese: I recommend using full-fat cream cheese.
- Milk: Any type of milk will work. Heavy cream will also work, but it will give you lighter, fluffier frosting.
- Nutrition facts are estimates.
Nutrition
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Adapted from Life In The Lofthouse.
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Comments & Reviews
Chele says
Wow! This brought back memories of the frosted brownies we used to make in Home Economic class in middle school. This is now in my baking scrapbook of recipes! Thank you so much for sharing!
Kate says
Thank you! I’m so glad that you liked them!
Chelsey says
Great brownie recipe! The frosting is my favrotie part.
Kate says
Thank you! I’m glad that you liked them! Thank you for commenting. =)
rosie says
im very excited to try this, that frosting looks delicious!
Kate says
Thanks! I hope you enjoy them as much as we do! =)
Andrea @ Travel Cook Tell says
Hi kate,
I have to make this recipe! Soon!!!
Thanks for sharing.
Andrea @ Travel Cook Tell
Kate says
Hi Andrea – Great! =) Hope you enjoy it as much as we do!